Zulu king calls for end to assassination scourge

‘Amakhosi must come together and solve the problem.’ By

Misuzulu, however, believes commissions of inquiry achieve nothing as they have failed to end political killings (Moerane Commission) and have failed to bring the culprits to book, even in corruption and criminal cases (Farlam Commission of Inquiry into the Marikana Massacre and the Zondo Commission).

“We are saying that amakhosi themselves must come together to say what is causing the killings and what must be done to stop,” Zulu said. He added that Misuzulu would seek engagement with both the provincial and national governments on this matter.

Zolani Mkiva, Contralesa’s general secretary, said the organisation was concerned about the growing trend of killing amakhosi and iziNduna “which manifests itself in KwaZulu-Natal and isolated cases in the Eastern Cape”.

He said: “Traditional leadership is part of the leadership in our society. We need to locate this challenge within the spike of violence in this country. The rate of murder in our society is so high. But we are very concerned as the leadership of Contralesa about the killing of amakhosi and iziNduna.

“We have raised this issue sharply with government at the national level. I have had to interface directly with Police Minister Bheki Cele on this matter.” Mkiva said only a specialised police unit and a commission of inquiry would help remedy the problem.

The call to establish a commission of inquiry is also supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders. Inkosi Sifiso Shinga of the Ndelu clan, who was recently elected as the house’s new chairperson, said: “We have been hoping that law enforcement agencies would intervene and stop these killings, but that is not happening. We think only a commission of inquiry will be able to get to the heart of this phenomenon.”

According to the 2021/2022 Budget, a senior traditional leader (inkosi) earns a salary of R279,000 a year and a headman or