We can’t compromise royals’ safety

We welcome the news that the VIP protection for the Zulu royal family, including new King MisuZulu, has not been withdrawn.

The traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi issued a statement on Saturday night raising concerns about the safety of the new king as he said the police’s VIP unit had been instructed to leave the KwaKhangelamankengane royal palace in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal.

He said the instruction was on the basis that a new king had not been formally installed by the government yet. However, the provincial government dismissed the claims yesterday. Premier Sihle Zikalala said he had been informed that the allegations were “baseless and misleading” after he engaged provincial commissioner Lieut-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, relevant MECs and police minister Bheki Cele.

“In fact, there has even been reinforcement of security at all the palaces with the tactical response unit. There will never be any effort to weaken security at the royal palaces of his majesty the king,” Zikalala said. We are pleased with the seriousness the provincial government has handled the matter, as security for the king and the rest of the royal family now and after his official inauguration is important.

The stability of the Zulu kingdom is of national interest as the monarchy is seen as a representation of peace and unity in a province that was hit by deadly political clashes in the past.

There was drama at the reading of the will of the late regent Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, which announced King MisuZulu as the successor of his father, the late king Goodwill Zwelithini.

Thankfully the family has since presented a united front and pledged their support for the new monarch. However, there are still two court challenges by royals – one from the late king’s daughters questioning the authenticity of their father’s will and from his first wife Queen Sibongile Dlamini, who seeks to be recognised as the only wife the late king married legally.

These leave the environment fertile for conflict, within the royal family members and from any external forces. Therefore security for all the palaces is of paramount importance. With everything that is happening in SA right now, it is in everyone’s interest to keep the biggest kingdom in the land in peace and secure.

And we wish the new king well.