2-IN-1 STORY: Mandla Mandela's 'Conversion' Shocks Traditional Leaders

Mandla Mandela became a chief with the approval if his grandfather in 2007 AFP

Traditional leaders in South Africa's Eastern Cape province are seeking answers from Nelson Mandela's grandson following reports that he converted to Islam and married a Muslim woman, Rabia Clarke, the respected News24 website reports.

BBC Africa Live report continues:

Mandla Mandela - a chief in Mvezo, the birthplace of the anti-apartheid icon who died in 2013 - married Ms Clarke at a mosque in Cape Town on Saturday, in what was his fourth marriage, 

"We reacted with shock on the news of his conversion. We were also very concerned. What we know is that the woman converts, not the man. That is our custom,”said Chief Mwelo Nonkonyane, the chairman of the influential Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa in Eastern Cape, News24 reports.  

Chief Nonkonyane added that traditional leaders were troubled that Mr Mandela, 42, married without the presence of any of them at the ceremony, News24 reports.

“Traditional leaders don’t marry secretly. He should have been represented by the traditional council of Mvezo. He is the leader of [the] people of Mvezo. We are still trying to locate him to get answers,” it quotes him as saying. 

On Monday, a senior Muslim cleric said that Mr Mandela converted to Islam before his wedding, local media reported. He has not commented on the reports of his conversion.

Traditional Leaders Want Answers From Mandela Over Conversion To Islam

Nkosi Zwelivelile ‘Mandla’ Mandela with his bride, Rabia Clarke. (Picture supplied) Muslim convert Mandla Mandela wed Rabia Clarke married in a ceremony at Kensington Mosque on Saturday, 6 February.

Eastern Cape traditional leaders want answers from Nelson Mandela’s grandson Nkosi Zwelivelile 'Mandla' Mandela about why he reportedly converted to Islam when he married a Muslim woman.

News24 report continues:

“We reacted with shock on the news of his conversion. We were also very concerned. What we know is that the woman converts, not the man. That is our custom,” Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa provincial chairperson Chief Mwelo Nonkonyane said on Tuesday.

They were troubled that Mandela married without any traditional leaders present at the ceremony.

“Traditional leaders don’t marry secretly. He should have been represented by the traditional council of Mvezo. He is the leader of people of Mvezo. We are still trying to locate him to get answers,” he said.

Mandela married Muslim bride Rabia Clarke last week.

“I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Rabia's parents, her extended family and the Muslim community, for welcoming me into their hearts,” Mandela said in a statement. 

The marriage, in Cape Town, was the fourth for Mandela, whose heritage was isiXhosa. He was the traditional chief of Mvezo.

“Although Rabia and I were raised in different cultural and religious traditions, our coming together reflects what we have in common: We are South Africans,” he said.

According to reports, Mandela was still legally married to his first wife, Tando Mabunu-Mandela, with whom he had been embroiled in a long and bitter divorce.

City Press newspaper reported that the pair were married in community of property in 2004 and had been fighting in court over various assets.

In the past, she had laid bigamy charges against him. He had defied various interdicts and married three more times.

Mandela wed second wife Anais Grimaud in a traditional ceremony in 2010. In 2013, Mandla accused his younger brother Mbuso of impregnating Grimaud.  Their marriage was annulled.

In 2014, his marriage to third wife Mbali Makhathini in a traditional ceremony in 2011, was declared null and void in court.