By Celani Sikhakhane
- KwaMusi village lifts ban on police minister after learning gifts came from King Misuzulu’s representative.
- Village rivalry has disrupted matric exams with students forced to write at other schools after deadly violence.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had no choice but to accept gifts from one side of fighting KwaZulu-Natal villages, because they came from King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s representative.
This was explained to angry KwaMusi villagers who had banned Mchunu after he accepted a sheep and blanket from their rivals in Onyango village on Saturday.
Mchunu visited Onyango village in KwaNongoma to help stop ongoing killings between the two communities.
Norma Mbatha from the Izwi Labantu Forum in KwaMusi said they lifted their ban after getting an explanation from the police ministry.
“The chief of staff from the police ministry Mthokozisi Nkabinde phoned us and explained the whole situation about those gifts. We then reached common ground on the matter and lifted our ban against the minister.
“Nkabinde explained that it was difficult for the minister to reject a gesture that was coming from Iso leSilo (King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s representative),” said Mbatha.
A meeting between all parties is now planned for Monday at KwaMusi.
The community had also banned KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, who received two cattle as gifts.
Mbatha said they were worried the gifts would make the officials favour one side.
The fighting has badly affected local students. After a pupil was killed in a fight at Sihlahlasenkosi High School, matric students had to write their final exams at other schools last year.
Pictured above: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu couldn’t reject the gifts because it was from King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s representative.
Source: Supplied
