In his book, ‘Long Walk to Freedom’, Nelson Mandela refers to the royal residence of the acting regent of the Thembu people, King Jongintaba Dalindyebo, in Mqhekezweni, as the “Great Place”.
In 1930, following his father’s death, with his mother, the twelve year old Mandela travelled by foot from Qunu to the Great Place, where Jongintaba became his guardian.