Inkatha funds Zulu king, province maintains sanctions
Ifp-led municipalities gave over R1.5 million to support a Zulu royal household event yesterday, while the provincial government continued to withhold funding to the family.
The commemoration of the Anglozulu War of 1879, held at Isandlwana, Nquthu, in northern Kwazulu-natal, was a hive of activity and attracted many Zulu regiments.
The Anc-led provincial government withheld financial support to the royal household until squabbles over who should inherit the throne are resolved.
On Friday, Prince Mbonisi filed an urgent application in the High Court seeking an interdict to prevent de facto King Misuzulu from addressing yesterday’s commemoration, but the application was dismissed.
King Misuzulu has observed all the events on the royal calendar since he was named as a successor to the throne, after his mother, Queen Mantfombi, died last year. The events had been kept small with minimal people in attendance due to financial constraints.
The Umzinyathi District Municipality and Nquthu Local Municipality forked out over R1.5m, while the municipalities of Phongola, Msinga and King Cetshwayo District – all controlled by the IFP – sponsored transport.
Nkanyiso Cebekhulu, spokesperson for Umzinyathi District Municipal, said the event was a great benefit to the community through the creation of job opportunities, especially tourism.
“The municipality heard about the premier’s decision to suspend support for royal events.
“As the district and the local municipality, we took an initiative to sponsor the event. To us, the event is not just a royal one, but one where the local people benefit from it. It is our responsibility as the municipality to develop and support our local people without the consent of the provincial government,” he added.
Nquthu Municipality mayor, Zama Shabalala, said the local economy benefited from hosting the events as many businesses were still recovering from Covid-19. He would not state the exact amount contributed by the municipality, saying they were still to calculate this.
Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, traditional prime minister of the Zulu monarch and nation, lambasted Prince Mbonisi for his repeated efforts to halt royal events.
He said it was a disgrace that Prince Mbonisi and his sister Princess Thembi kept causing trouble in the family, disputing the succession of the new king.
Addressing the regiments, King Misuzulu praised them for their continued support, despite the challenges in the royal family.
He conceded that the situation has been dire without the support of the government in hosting royal events.