King condemns politicking
Banners used to promote government departments should be banned.
King Goodwill Zwelithini said he will not tolerate political parties hijacking Shaka Day or any similar event for their election campaigns.
Addressing thousands of people at the KwaDukuza Recreation Grounds during the Shaka Day celebrations last Thursday, the king criticized the KZN premier’s office Senzo Mchunu and the department of Art and Culture for erecting their banners at the event.
“These banners should not be used here. It means that politicians are just campaigning. You should be using royal banners displaying my face. This is not a political event, it is mine,” said King Zwelithini.
He was also critical of the department’s organisation of the event, accusing them of not following the correct traditional procedures, like failing to include the prayer that should have been held at King Shaka palace on King Shaka Road.
He said they were supposed to say a traditional prayer to inform the ancestors that the venue has been changed.
He also accused government officials of misusing the money allocated to the royal families, while his palaces were falling apart.
“Yet there are people accusing me of misusing tax payers’ money,” he said.
The King said there are government officials who are using the royal family and the royal events to steal money from the government.
He also stressed his concern and disappointment at the violence in hostels, especially in Glebeland and KwaMashu.
Ironically it was reportedly young men from Umlazi’s 17 Hostel who caused panic twice during proceedings by firing live rounds into the air.
Panic ensued when the “amabutho” warriors fired numerous shots upon their arrival and in Cato Street as they were leaving later that day.
No one was injured and the celebrations continued unhindered.
“It is clear that politicians have failed to deal with this matter, they just need to admit it. So I will be visiting these hostels to find the cause of the problem.”
King Zwelithini said that he suspected political conflicts as being one of the reasons for violence at the hostels.
In closing, the King, was joined by his guests, in chanting the ‘ihubo’ with a traditional Zulu dance.
Traditional stick fighting was among the highlights of the day, with the young men displaying their strength and agility on the ‘battlefield’.
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