Royal palace to remain under police protection
THE ANC in Kwazulu-natal says it hoped that rumours relating to the removal of police protection at the royal palace were not an attempt to “create a schism” between the Ancled government and the Royal House.
Earlier, Zulu traditional prime minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi expressed concern for the safety of newly-named King Misuzulu kazwelithini after claims that the SAPS had started withdrawing its VIP protection.
The new king is the son of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini and the recently departed Zulu Queen Regent Mantfombi Dlamini-zulu, sister to King Mswati III.
Following his naming on Friday, the new king has been facing threats and was whisked away to safety by assault rifle-wielding security personnel.
In a statement, Buthelezi said the SAPS security was not provided on the basis of status, but on the basis of a threat assessment. “It seems perfectly clear that His Majesty the King would be placed in a vulnerable position if security were to be withdrawn at this point.
“Despite the clear and present danger this poses, I am informed that the Brigadier in Charge of the SAPS Protectors stationed at the Palace has confirmed to advocate Mshololo, who is also present at the Palace, that they have been instructed to withdraw. Both the Zulu royal family and the Swati royal family are shocked by this sudden development,” he said.
Independent Media obtained images outside the palace which seemed to confirm Buthelezi’s claims that VIP protection was being removed. One image is captioned: “The main gate leading to the palace is manned by an old and unarmed man. Closer to the palace one female officer was seen walking in and it was said she was there on private business. Prince Misuzulu, the new king of the Zulu nation and his convoy, were not within the palace.”
However yesterday, the office of the national police commissioner confirmed that security services had not been withdrawn. National police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said: “Contrary to recent reports circulating in the mainstream and social media platforms, protection for the royal family in Kwazulu-natal has not been withdrawn.
“It is rather unfortunate that information of such protection being withdrawn was made public without the SAPS leadership being approached for verification.” Echoing Naidoo’s statement, Premier Sihle Zikalala dismissed claims that police protection had been withdrawn.
Zikalala ran the claims by KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Peggy Nkonyeni and Police Minister Bheki Cele.
“Following these engagements, we hereby reject these allegations as baseless and misleading. All royal palaces are under the protection of the South African Police Service and this will continue. The Royal Protection Service s is at the palace as we speak.
“In fact, there has even been a reinforcement of security (at) all the palaces with the Tactical Response Unit.
“As the government has always done, we shall, at all times, take the responsibility of ensuring the safety and protection of the palaces and their inhabitants, especially His Majesty, the King,” said Zikalala.
ANC provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli appealed to Buthelezi to verify his information before issuing security-related statements to the public.
“The African National Congress is extremely concerned and deeply troubled by the suspected motive of whoever had advised Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi about the alleged withdrawal of the protection services to His Majesty, the King Misizulu Ka Zwelithini. We hope and sincerely trust that the intended agenda is not to create a schism between the Ancled government and the Royal House or His Majesty the King for political expediency.”
Meanwhile, Buthelezi released yet another statement last night stating that he was “surprised by the knee-jerk reaction of the ANC in Kwazulu-natal”. “My statement last night was made in accordance with my responsibility to His Majesty the King. It would have been a grave dereliction of duty had I not raised this matter with the urgency that it warranted,” he said.
He added: “Immediately after this incident, I was with the Queen Mother, Queen Mayvis (mazungu), inside the Palace when Colonel Radebe came with several officers to suggest to me that, based on this incident, His Majesty should be taken to eswatini immediately. I found it strange that the SAPS should want the King to leave his Palace just moments after he had been named as king, as though they felt that the Swati police could offer His Majesty better protection.“