Concern over 3-year fishing permits
King Cetshwayo, BaPedi King Sekhukhune and 17th century resistance leader Doman were unveiled in the main courtyard of the Castle in an event regarded as a high point of the year-long programme commemorating the laying of the Castle’s foundation stone 350 years ago, in 1666.
Each of the three kings had languished in the cells of the Castle in the latter half of the 19th century as punishment for resistance to colonial rule.
For the Hlubi visitors, however, the celebration of their role in resisting colonialism was soured by the use of an appellation they felt was “very disrespectful and insulting for the amaHlubi nation and their ancestors”, in the words of lawyer Bhekikazi Phoswa, who represents the King Langalibalele II Development Trust.
It is understood that an attempt was made to placate the Hlubi delegation with an immediate apology before they left the Castle precincts. Later, Phoswa said, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Kebby Maphatsoe said they “would be willing to offer a public apology for that statement, (but) the king still awaits that statement”.
The Department of Defence has not yet responded to inquiries.
For more than a decade, the amaHlubi of north-western KwaZulu-Natal have been trying to restore their kingdom and have it formally acknowledged. This bid was denied by the Nhlapo Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims, set up by former president Thabo Mbeki in 2004, and whose findings were accepted by President Zuma in 2010.
For the amaHlubi, the outcome meant accepting chieftaincy status under the Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
This year, the Hlubi brought a review application in the North Gauteng High Court to contest the Nhlapo Commission’s findings. It is expected to be heard next year.
In a briefing at a luxury city-centre hotel just hours after the Hlubi royal party had left the Castle, Phoswa – flanked by the king, other members of the royal family, and 12 chiefs from various parts of the country – expressed the entourage’s anger and dismay at the slight, and at the government’s prevarication in acknowledging the Hlubi kingship.
Speaking for the king, who remained mute and unsmiling, Phoswa said: “It’s imperative to put on record that the king is very disturbed by the attitude of certain government officials.”
The entourage was buoyed earlier on Friday when they heard Maphatsoe, live on SABC, name Langalibalele II as king, saying he would be present at the Castle ceremony. And the king was greeted in this way when the Hlubi royal family arrived.
“So it took the king and the chiefs by surprise when, in the speech… (the king was) bluntly referred to as ‘iNkosi’.
“One wonders, then, what is the official stance?”
The Hlubi trace their royal line back to King Chibi, who ruled from 1300 to 1325, when the Hlubi lived in the Congo Basin. SMALL-SCALE fishers in KwaZulu-Natal have raised concerns about the three-year fishing permit to be granted by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as of next year.
They told Bheki Cele, Deputy Minister of the department, during a stormy meeting on Friday at uMtwalume, southern KZN, that they wanted an eight-year permit.
Cele’s visit was a part of a cabinet imbizo focus week, a series of meetings with fishers and communities, aimed at addressing illegal fishing.
About 500 fishermen will be granted permits at Umtwalume from July.
Lindani Ngubane of Masifundisane Development Trust, a fishermen’s organisation, was not happy with the threeyear permit.
“Most customary fishermen living under traditional authorities should have been involved in the process to ensure that the policy works for them too. And we also want to be given eight-year permits,” said Ngubane.
He added: “Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife also has extended the Marine Protected Areas, which means boats will not be allowed in those areas. We think there are issues to be addressed in ensuring that this policy benefits the rural communities.
While he was pleased with the progress made, he said there were loopholes in the implementation process. The verification of fishermen was unfair since traditional leaders were sidelined.
He urged the department to stop giving more licences to established fishermen, saying this was hindering radical transformation in the industry.
Another small-scale fish farmer, Busi Lubanyane, 48, from Port Shepstone, said the three-year permit would disadvantage them as small-scale fish farmers.
“It takes time to renew the permit; we spend a lot developing the fish pond. To be given three years, it will take us back to where we started. We also need to be equipped with skills,” he said.
Responding, Cele said he had noted the outcry over fishing licences which had sparked clashes between the fishermen and Ezemvelo KZN wildlife in the province.