By Lungani Zungu
Police Minister Bheki Cele has issued a stern warning to the people planning to boo and heckle President Cyril Ramaphosa at King Misuzulu KaZwelithini’s coronation.
On Saturday, Ramaphosa will hand over the certificate of recognition to King Misuzulu at the historical coronation ceremony in Durban.
But rumours have been circulating that some are planning to use the event to ridicule the president.
“We have heard that some people are plotting some sinister things behind the scenes. We are not going to allow that to happen on Saturday,” said Cele.
“This is not an ANC event; it’s a government event that is very important for the millions of Zulu people.”
Ramaphosa is among the candidates running for the ANC president position ahead of the party’s December conference.
But also, the so-called royal rebels who opposed King Misuzulu’s taking the throne have, in the past, openly slammed Ramaphosa for what they termed as taking sides in the battle for the throne.
Cele said security will be beefed up and will be manned by police from different divisions to ensure that the event flows seamlessly.
Private security companies will also form part of the security detail.
“Those who will try to heckle or boo the president will be dealt with accordingly,” said Cele.
King Misuzulu heads to the coronation without a prominent Induna Maphemba Cuphisa Ntuli of the Osuthu Traditional Council, who was gunned down alongside three other people on Saturday in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The police are still investigating.
The event is a formality as King Misuzulu is already on the throne after performing the entering of the kraal sacred ritual in August.
Before entering the kraal, King Misuzulu hunted and killed a lion – which was part of the ritual to show his mighty powers as he took the throne to lead the nation of more than 11 million people.
The spokesperson of the royal family, Prince Thulani Zulu, said King Misuzulu was in high spirits ahead of the monumental event.
Pictured above: Police Minister Bheki Cele
