King Sabata Dalindyebo and the rural political struggles in 20th Century South Africa by Jongikhaya Mvenene

The apartheid government was instrumental in orchestrating the demise of traditional leadership by using willing persons in exchange for short-term rewards. Through the imposition of illegitimate chiefs and headmen, the apartheid government thrived by implementing its divide and rule strategy to undermine African traditional leadership, especially kings.

This has been a perpetual stratagem of white colonialists to ensure that the colonial project remains intact. This led to the dispossession of land and livestock belonging to black people. This economic impoverishment ensured that they are reduced to labouring in the mines for white colonial masters.