
He died at a Tshwane hospital on 11 February 2020 – ambushed by an illness that had been part of his life for a while.
Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane has used the opening of the 6th Mpumalanga house of traditional leaders to remember the late Chief Mantjolo Mnisi, asking for a moment of silence to be observed.
Tsipane said since the house was established in 1995 this is the first time that it opened without him.
Mantjolo led the Nkonjaneni Royal Kraal outside Badplaas and is the founding chairperson of the Mpumalanga house of traditional leaders, leading it in 1995 at the age of 32.
He died on 11 February 2020 at a Tshwane hospital, and his “astute leadership and strong sense of humour” was remembered when Tsipane and Inkhosi Sandile Ngomane opened the 6th house Thursday 23 July 2020.
“We will miss him for his astute leadership and strong sense of humour,” Tsipane said.
“He was an embodiment of fearless leadership underpinned by unwavering integrity, even if it cost him support and friendship,” the Premier said while addressing the house.

“He spoke his mind on substantial matters,” said Tsipane, “and as a result he was able to win support where it mattered the most”.
Mantjolo was a member the provincial executive committee (PEC) of the house and died months after he left the ANC to form the South African National Congress of Traditional Authority (SANCOTA) – a political party he founded with eMalahleni controversial businessman Themba ‘Masofa’ Sgudla in January 2019 and which contested the May 2019 South African general elections.
ALSO SEE: Chief Mantjolo launches SANCOTA in Bushbuckridge
Mantjolo served as its President, while Sgudla served as executive committee member – pumping support to it using his non-profit organisation, the Practical Radical Economic Transformation (PRET) as SANCOTA’s “alliance partner” and which dealt “with issues of membership while SANCOTA deals with its ideological position”.
But towards the May election date, both Sgudla and Mantjolo began not seeing eye to eye, and Mantjolo jumped ship as it headed towards an iceberg, leaving Sgudla to campaign for SANCOTA alone.

SANCOTA got 0.24% at the total South African vote cast and Sgudla deregistered it, returning to the ANC to support the #Focus campaign that is led by acting ANC provincial chairman Mandla Ndlovu, which wants Ndlovu to emerge as DD Mabuza’s successor in Mpumalanga following his election as deputy president in Nasrec on 18 December 2017.
The campaign is opposed to the #Ngci campaign led by Tsipane and which wants her as the chair of the ANC in the province.
“His death is a loss to the Mantjolo Royal Kraal and his community of eNkonjaneni, and the local primary school that he contributed for its establishment, will be a stark memory in his name and good legacy,” said Tsipane.
(edited by ZK)
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