Nelson Mandela’s grandson converts to Islam

And it seems the secrecy has caused concerns within the AbaThembu Royal family, who now question the chief's commitment to upholding time-honoured traditions.

In rural South Africa, away from many of the trappings of modern life, traditional leaders play a key role in their communities.

This could be in the form of ceremonies or day to day decisions on how to resolve conflicts. While this is the chief's fourth marriage, it is the first to pit him against tradition - the very core of who he is.