A long-running leadership dispute within the Ndiweni royal family has escalated, with two factions presenting sharply opposing claims over who should be recognised as the substantive chief of Ntabazinduna.
One group, backing Dumisani Douglas Ndiweni, says the chieftaincy is vacant and that he is the rightful successor.
The other faction, aligned with Chief Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni, maintains that the position is not vacant and that he remains the legitimate chief, despite being based in the United Kingdom.
The group supporting Dumisani Douglas Ndiweni says it has acted in accordance with the Traditional Leaders Act, which empowers the royal family, as an electoral college, to identify a candidate for appointment.
In a statement, family spokesperson Stanley Madlala Dube said the faction had endorsed Douglas Ndiweni as substantive chief.
“The Ndiweni royal family pro-Dumisani Douglas Ndiweni faction has exercised its mandate as an electoral body and identified the last-born son of the late Chief Kaizer Ndiweni, Dumisani Douglas Ndiweni, for the position of substantive chief of the people of Ntabazinduna,” he said.
The faction said its decision was fully backed by traditional structures within the Nhlambabaloyi clan.
“Dumisani Douglas Ndiweni’s candidature is endorsed 100% by the three traditional pillars, Tshagwanyama, Mhabhinyana and Mbayiwa,” the statement said.
The group further argued that Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni is disqualified from holding office following his 2019 conviction.
“Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni was and remains disqualified from being substantive chief. The position of substantive chief has been vacant since 16 August 2019,” the statement added.
It also rejected the appointment of Wishes Ndiweni as acting chief, describing it as illegitimate.
“Ntabazinduna is not a colony where Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni will appoint a native commissioner. That is wishful thinking,” the statement said.
However, a separate faction within the family disputes those claims, insisting that Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni remains the substantive chief.
In a letter dated 31 March 2026 to the Umguza District Development Coordinator, the family announced the appointment of Wishes Ndiweni as acting chief.
“The House of Ndiweni has seen it appropriate, and indeed in line with the Traditional Leaders Act, to appoint an Acting Chief until such time Inkosi Nhlanhlayamngwe Ndiweni returns,” the letter read.
The family stressed that the move was temporary and did not amount to a succession decision.
The dispute dates back to the death of Chief Khayisa Ndiweni in 2010. His son, Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni, was installed and formally recognised in 2014.
However, the succession has been contested within sections of the family, including by his brother Douglas.
Tensions escalated in 2019 when the government announced his removal from office. He challenged the decision in the High Court, arguing that he had not been given a fair hearing.
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