The South African Royal Princesses elect their Leadership

TDS/SARPN

13 March 2025

On 8 March 2025, International Women's Day, South African Princesses from various parts of South Africa gathered in Midrand, in Gauteng Province, South Africa to officially launch the South African Royal Princesses Network - SARPN as well as elect new leadership. The Network whose role includes nation building, social cohesion, fight against GBV and contribution to rural development and gender empowerment was founded by Princess Stella Sigcau II from the Mpondo Kingdom in the Eastern Cape in 2019. 

SARPN is the first organisation in South Africa that harnesses the important and influential status of the Princesses of the South African royalty . Princess Sigcau has since been appointed as the honorary President of the Network. Her role will be honorary whilst the Network will be led and governed by the elected leadership which will form the Executive Council of Princesses.

Princess Nonkululeko Mahlangu from amaNdzundza Kingdom was elected as the Chairperson and Princess Boiketlo Matsepo from the Taung Chieftaincy was elected as Deputy Chairperson. Princess Nomfundo Zibi of the Hlubi Kingdom was appointed as the Vice Deputy President whilst Princess Nandile Ndamase of the Mpondo Kingdom was elected as Secretary General. Elected as treasurer was Princess Tsholofelo Ramakoka from the Ramakoka Chieftaincy. Elected as additional members of the Council were Princess Sinovuyo Dumalisile from the Xhosa Kingdom and Princess Suzan Mathibe from Mathibe Chieftaincy.

The vision of the South African Royal Princesses Network is to create a unified and empowered community of progressive and developmental focused Princesses from diverse backgrounds across South Africa, driving positive change and development in their respective communities.

It's Mission is to provide a platform for Princesses to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate on initiatives that promote community upliftment, youth development, rural growth, and women's empowerment.

The objectives of the Network are:

1. To Establish a strong network.
   2. Create a platform for Princesses to connect, share experiences, and support one another.
   3. Empowerment through knowledge sharing
   4. Contribute in the fight and uprooting of GBV, femicide, child abuse, human trafficking, child trafficking as well as create awareness through
   facilitation of workshops, Seminars, webinars and awareness campaigns.
   5. Training sessions, and discussions on topics such as leadership, community development, and entrepreneurship.
   6. Engage on community development initiatives.
   7. Collaborate on projects that address social, economic, and environmental challenges in communities across South Africa.
   8. Engage on youth development and mentorship.
   9. Establish mentorship programs, career guidance, and skills development initiatives for young women and girls.
   10. Identify and support initiatives that promote rural development, such as agriculture, education, tourism, biodiversity and infrastructure development.
   11. Advocate for women's rights, gender equality, and social justice, promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect.
   12. Create initiatives in collaboration with government, municipalities, business sector, NPOs and other relevant stakeholders that promote South Africa's diverse and rich heritage as a people, and diverse multilingual nation fostering unity that enables tradition and modernity to coexist
   13. Explore the possibility of establishing a formal association, defining its role, and establishing a governance structure.
   14. Identify, initiate, and support projects that align with the network's objectives, providing resources, expertise, and funding where possible.
   15. Initiate cultural events.
   16. Establish a communication platform for members to share information, updates, and events, promoting collaboration and support each other's initiatives.
   17. Promote and preserve the cultural heritage of Princesses from diverse backgrounds, celebrating their traditions, customs, and histories.
   18. Promote unity in a diversity of cultures.
   19. Create Networks with other Traditional and Royal Institutions and Princess Networks or Associations in the broader African Continent and the world as well Institutions like UN, IMO.

The National Leadership will be launching branches through out the year in various provinces and the main celebration of the Launch of the Network will take place at Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau Multipurpose Centre in Matshona Village, Ntabankulu in September in the form of GBV, Child Trafficking, Human Trafficking and Child abuse Awareness Seminar.