KZN ready to roll out carpet for King Misuzulu’s handover
MORE than 48 000 people and 2 500 guests are expected to fill Moses Mabhida Stadium for the ceremonial handover of the certificate of recognition to King Misuzulu kaZwelithini by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday.
Some 80 buses and more than 200 minibus taxis have been arranged to transport Amabutho, oMama and Izintombi, while eThekwini has confirmed the procurement of 100 additional buses for its residents.
Some of the confirmed foreign dignitaries are kings from Eswatini, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Botswana.
This was revealed during a media briefing on the state of readiness for the event by an inter-ministerial task team at Moses Mabhida Stadium yesterday.
The task team included Minister of Co-operative Government and Traditional Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, and Minister of Sports, Art and Culture Nathi Mthethwa.
Under the theme Liphumile ilanga KwaZulu (“the sun has risen on the Zulu nation”), Dube-Ncube said the event would inspire a wave of hope across the length and breadth of the society following the dark autumn of 2021.
“Our nation was dealt a gaping wound that would take a lifetime to heal, as we witnessed the demise of His Majesty King Zwelithini and Regent Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu in close succession.
“We converge here exactly two days before this historic event and, indeed, the entire world bears witness to a sacred ceremony that for many people will happen once in a lifetime. It is because of this that the whole world is eagerly awaiting this event because it is steeped in historical significance when you consider the fact that it last happened in 1971,” she said.
Dube-Ncube said the city’s preparations were ready to ensure the event was successful, adding that the historical ceremony would be remembered by many generations to come.
She said that owing to the magnitude and significance of the event, huge attendance was anticipated, and therefore people would be accommodated in the overflow areas.