Chief Kaizer Daliwonga Matanzima

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Kaiser Daliwonga Matanzima (June 15, 1915 - June 15, 2003) was a former leader of the then-bantustan of Transkei in South Africa; He led Transkei to self-government in 1964 and to an internationally unrecognised indepedence in October, 1976. Matanzima served as Prime Minister and then as President, a non-executive rtole. Tribally, he was made paramount chief of the Emigrant Thembus, a breakaway and subserviant group to the Thembus proper, whose royal house was to produce his relative and friend Nelson Mandela. The name Daliwonga is an "inkahlelo" - a praise name given on his reaching manhood. It means Maker of Majesty.

Matanzima was born in Qamata. He studied law at Fort Hare University and completed his articles in the Transkei capital, Umtata, in 1948. He never practised law. His support of the Bantu Authorities Act passed by the apartheid government in 1953, and which looked to foster traditional African leadership structures, saw him part ways with Matanzima politically but the two remained friends. Bantu Authorities was a pillar for the later establishment of bantustans, essentially the partitioning of Souyth Africa between white and black. Matanzima was NOT a rival for the affection of Winnie Mandela. Mandela was Matanzima's best man when he married. Moreover, Winnie was Mandela's second wife and they met in Johannesburg.

Mandela condemned Matanzima's de facto support of apartheid, and in his 1975 tract "Independence my Way", Matanzima argued that liberation would come through a federation of black states, such as Transkei, rather than through liberation movements like the Mandela led African National Congress.

Matanzima became a member of the United Transkeian Territorial Council in 1955 and an Executive Council member of the newly created Transkeian Territorial Authority (TTA) in 1956. In 1961 he graduated to Chairman of the TTA, survived an assassination attempt in December 1962 by members of the Pan Africanist Congress, and in 1963 was an obvious candidate for Chief Minister of the newly formed Transkeian Legislative Assembly. His prominence was bolstered in 1966 when he inherited the title of Paramount Chief of the Emigrant Thembu; he founded the Transkei National Independence Party and led it to election victories in 1968 and 1973, being sworn in as Prime Minister when Transkei became the first bantustan to gain nominal independence in 1976.

Matanzima clashed with the South African government over various issues, mostly connected with territorial demands made by Matanzima. This led to his announcement in 1978 that Transkei would break all diplomatic ties with South Africa, including the non-aggression pact between them. However, Matanzima soon backed down in the face of Transkei's dependence on South African economic aid.

In 1979 Matanzima became State President, with his brother George as Prime Minister. Their approach included gaoling protestors and banning of such opposition parties as, in 1980, the Democratic Progressive Party. That party's leader, Thembu King Sabata Dalindyebo, was convicted of "violating the dignity" as President of Matanzima, but escaped to Zambia and joined the ANC.

Mandela's father-in-law was a member of the Transkei cabinet, and Matanzima attempted to persuade Mandela to accept exile in the Transkei in lieu of imprisonment. Mandela not only refused, but declined to see Matanzima during his own imprisonment on Robben Island, fearing that such a meeting would legitimise the bantustans in the international community.

On 20 February 1986, faced with South Africa's evidence of corruption, Matanzima was forced to retire as President. He was succeeded by his brother George, but the two fell out and Matanzima himself was temporarily detained in the Transkei gaols in 1987; upon release, he was restricted to Qamata.

Matanzima died in Queenstown his 88^th birthday. He received an official funeral, but not a state one as former allies and supporters had hoped. The continued mixed feelings toward him in South Africa were reflected in President Thabo Mbeki's eulogy for him, and Mandela's speaking warmly of Matanzima's role as a Thembu elder.