Online Reporter
Mzala Tom
King Dingiswayo of the Mthethwa kingdom was the son of King Jobe. The lineage of the Mthethwa kingdom up to King Dingiswayo is as follows:
Mthethwa – the ancestor.
Nyambose
Khubazi
Ndlovu
Simamane-wengwe born 1600s
Madangu
Xaba
Khayi 1710-1788
Khayi was the father of Jobe. Jobe had four sons – Tana, Godongwana (Dingiswayo), Mawewe, Mondise and Myaka.
It is said that Tana and Godongwana, had a discussion as they were bathing in the cool waters of the uMfolozi River one afternoon. As they were talking excitedly Godongwana was heard saying:
“It will be for our people’s good, Tana, to have you for their king instead of our father. Soon he will be full of foolishness and lacking in wisdom, so for our people’s good we must help our father out of this world!”
When this political crime was reported to the king; he ordered men from eNhlambeni, one of Khayi’s (Jobe’s father) imizi, to execute the two princes without fail.
It would seem that these soldiers, reached an agreement that Godongwana should be saved and not killed. Therefore, Tana faced his death by the spear and Godongwana escaped with a barbed spear wound.
Godongwana ran away and hid in a cave at eMawozini forest where he was nursed privately by one of his sisters.
From eMawozini forest he went to King Senzangakhona’s umuzi, eSiklebheni, where he was cared for until his wound was healed.
Godongwana’s presence at eSiklebheni was kept a secret for the Zulu knew that, if King Jobe came to know that his son was provided refuge by them, it could mean invasion and possible bloodshed.
