Prominent killings

Newly crowned Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini will make getting to the bottom of the killing of amakhosi and iziNduna one of his first priorities as he assumes his role as the head of one of Africa’s largest monarchies, said his spokesperson, Prince Thulani Zulu.

He said Misuzulu was concerned that these murders were happening mostly in KwaZulu-Natal. Family and hereditary disputes are not uncommon among traditional leaders in South Africa, but it is only in KZN where these disputes end in bloodshed.

There are 285 chiefs in KwaZulu-Natal. A recent study by KZN’s Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) shows there are more than 3,000 iziNduna earning stipends in the province.

The Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa) says at least 50 of its traditional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal have been killed since 2019. Of these 10 were amakhosi and 40 were iziNduna. The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders says it has lost many members in the past 10 years.

In July, chief regent Samson Buthelezi was gunned down at his home in Nquthu, northern KZN. A few months before his murder, 71-year-old Inkosi Mandlakayise Nxumalo, of the Zwide clan, was killed by gunmen in Ladysmith.

Meshack Mbuyazi, an induna in the Richards Bay area, was shot in December 2019 after meeting former KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala to resolve a mining conflict in the area.

Communities have been in a long-running conflict with Rio Tinto’s Richards Bay Minerals. The mine’s operations have been affected by tensions and violence sparked by a decade-long dispute over the chieftaincy of the Mbuyazi clan, on whose land the multibillion mining operation takes place.

The dispute, in which many lives have been lost, is still unresolved. Meshack Mbuyazi was a key figure involved in trying to resolve the dispute over the chieftaincy.

A close family member, who asked not to be named for fear of being targeted, said Meshack Mbuyazi would still be alive if there had been no dispute about the chieftaincy and its impact on Richards Bay Minerals’ mining operation.

Another prominent murder was that of Inkhosi Zibuse Mlaba, Cato Ridge’s interim chief, in October last year. He was a founding member of Contralesa and has been credited with having helped broker a peace deal between the Inkatha Freedom Party and the ANC in his area.

Mlaba was shot seven times in the head, chest and back by two gunmen outside his office in Cato Ridge. He died at the scene.

Zulu said: “Traditional leadership predates the current democratic government. Now, during the time when we are living in democracy, we are seeing some people killing amakhosi and iziNduna. They are weakening the institution of traditional leadership. Amakhosi and iziNduna are killed by people who live in their community; they are killed by people in our society.

“The king says there must be a gathering of government officials and amakhosi and iziNduna where this issue will be thrashed out. The king says this scourge, this situation, cannot be allowed to go on any longer,” Zulu said.

Both Contralesa and the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders – a statutory body comprising traditional leaders who represent the provincial houses at national level – have called for a commission of inquiry into the killings in KZN. headwoman (induna) earns an annual salary of R111,000.

The Ingonyama Trust Act of 1994 was negotiated and incorporated into the Constitution on the eve of the first non-racial elections in 1994. It bestows the custodianship of vast tracts of lucrative land – some which have minerals deposits – to amakhosi.

Amakhosi and iziNduna control vast amounts of resources in poor rural communities and often sell land under the Ingonyama Trust to people who want to build luxury homes or profitable businesses.

Some rights activists say the royalties from mining operations that are paid to traditional councils have led to a marked increase in conflict and violence. They allege that some mining companies “buy off” traditional leaders, which leads to conflict between the communities that are likely to be affected and the leaders who may be benefiting as well as between traditional authorities and councils that may have been offered “incentives” of differing values.

Human rights and social justice activist Vanessa Burger, who has been monitoring the murder of political and traditional leaders over the years, said the motives for the killings were difficult to establish – unless the cases are heard in court. Even then, she said, the reasons for the murder or wider context was not always clear.

‘“Some are killed in disputes over land. In lucrative mining areas, the disputes revolve around who benefits from the mining in the area. That is why activists and leaders who oppose mining or other developments also risk being assassinated…

“Traditional leaders may also be involved in the deadly taxi industry, or have businesses and contracts that lead to rivalry, or be involved in factional politics or criminal enterprises such as stock theft, etc.”

Senzo Mzila, spokesperson for the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, said the department was not aware of any calls for a commission of inquiry.

Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala, spokesperson for the KZN SAPS, said many of the cases were still under investigation.

“The cases are investigated by the provincial Organised Crime Unit. The motive for the killings is still being established. A team of seasoned detectives are investigating other cases,” she said, adding that police had also made a number of arrests.