By Celani Sikhakhane
- King Misuzulu demands an urgent meeting with the KZN Premier over replacement of kwaNobamba headmen without royal consent.
- Sacred Zulu ancestral land dispute threatens relationship between monarchy and provincial government after secret appointments.
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has called KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli to his palace for an urgent meeting after a fight over traditional leaders.
The Zulu King is angry because the provincial cabinet decided to remove headmen from kwaNobamba without telling him first. This is the historic home of King Senzangakhona kaJama, father of the famous King Shaka.
The government wants to replace these traditional leaders with people from the Ntombela and Mdletshe clans. They plan to put the new headmen on the government payroll by making their appointments official.
King Misuzulu and the royal family say this is wrong and disrespectful to the Zulu nation. They accuse Premier Ntuli and his cabinet of going behind the King’s back.
KwaNobamba is sacred land for the Zulu people. It sits in the eMakhosini valley where the Zulu nation was born. King Shaka lived there and King Dinuzulu is buried on the site.
On Friday, King Misuzulu met with traditional leaders, royal family members and other important people to discuss the problem. They believe putting the Ntombela clan on ancestral Zulu land is illegal.
The King has written to Premier Ntuli demanding a meeting within seven days at Mashobeni Royal Palace. He wants the recognition of the new traditional leaders stopped until they can talk.
“I request an urgent meeting between myself, the Premier and the MEC for Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs to discuss these matters in good faith,” the King said in a letter.
Trouble started last month when the Premier’s office filled royal house jobs with IFP people without asking King Misuzulu first. The royal family says the King should choose who works at the Royal Household.
Pictured above: King Misuzulu and Thami Ntuli.
Image source: KZN Office of the Premier
