Zulu monarch ‘did not incite xenophobic violence’
ALTHOUGH Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s utterances were harmful to foreign nationals, he did not call for violence against migrants, an investigation by the SA Human Rights Commission has found.
Commission chairperson Lawrence Mushwana yesterday told a media briefing that Zwelithini’s utterances, made during a speech he delivered at a meeting on moral regeneration in Pongola, KwaZulu- Natal, in March last year, did not actively incite violence but engendered discrimination.
“From an analysis of the utterances of the respondent in the transcribed version of his speech, the commission is of the view that at no point did the respondent issue a call to take arms or any call for violent attack against migrants,” Mushwana told reporters in Joburg.
“His utterances fell short of incitement to violence as he did not actively encourage or pressurise the audience into committing violent acts against migrants.”
He said, however, that Zwelithini’s statement created an environment in which foreigners could be discriminated against by society.
“Telling people that they’re criminals and that they’re here to steal the country’s wealth is harmful. Such psychological conditioning could ultimately lead to acts of discrimination and fuel a climate which leads to violence against migrants.”
In his speech, Zwelithini accused foreigners of making the “streets dirty”. He also called on foreigners to pack their bags and go home.
Mushwana said an isiZulu language expert who assisted the commission in its probe concluded that these statements did not incite violence.
“In the history of the Zulu nation, the king can express his views in a blunt and sometimes crude way without meaning to offend a particular individual.
“With regard to requests for ‘foreigners and their luggage to be sent back home’ the expert found that the reference to luggage is made on the assumption that hawkers are in South Africa illegally,” said Mushwana.
The complaint against the king was laid by the African Diaspora Forum, Lawyers for Human Rights and other individuals.
They charged that Zwelithini’s statement incited violence against foreigners and had resulted in an eruption of xeno- phobic attacks that started in KwaZulu-Natal last year.
Seven people were killed and thousands were displaced as violence against foreigners swept through large parts of the country.
Mushwana said Zwelithini had during his speech also criticised locals for inflicting violence on foreigners. “This aspect of the king’s speech was not covered in media.”
The monarch had argued that he was quoted out of context in the media.– ANA