Royal palace to stay under VIP protection
THE ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said 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 ANC-led 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 had to be whisked away to safety by assault rifle-wielding security personnel.
In a statement, Buthelezi said 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“It seems perfectly clear that His Majesty the King would be placed in a vulnerable position if security were to be withdrawn at this point.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.”
But yesterday, the office of the national police commissioner confirmed that security services had not been withdrawn.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circulating in the mainstream and social media platforms, protection for the royal family in KwaZulu-Natal has not been withdrawn.
“It is unfortunate that information of such protection being withdrawn was made public without the SAPS leadership being approached for verification.”
Echoing Naidoo’s statement, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala dismissed claims that police protection had been withdrawn.
Zikalala verified the claims with KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Peggy Nkonyeni and Police Minister Bheki Cele.