Mchunu looks to settle royal trust case

02 September 2015 - 02:12 By Bongani Mthethwa

KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu has intervened in a bid to protect Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini from an embarrassing legal battle involving the former head of the royal household trust. Former CEO Njabulo Buthelezi has dragged the trust to the CCMA, wherehe is seeking financial compensation after he was unceremoniously axed from his R92000-a-month job by former chairman Judge Jerome Ngwenya.The trust is opposing his application.The Times has established that Mchunu has roped in one of his senior officials, Chris Nxumalo, to mediate between Buthelezi and the trust in an effort to coax the parties to reach a settlement outside the commission.Part of Mchunu's efforts to shape up the image of the king includes implementing a turn-around strategy to strengthen the overall administration of the affairs of the royal family.Thami Ngwenya, spokesman for the KwaZulu-Natal government, said: "We can confirm that as part of our turn-around strategy Mchunu has ensured there is regular interaction with the office of the Auditor-General. This has assisted as part of continuous improvement to strengthen the management of the affairs of the royal household."Ngwenya said Mchunu's intervention in the legal battle involving Buthelezi was meant to afford the aggrieved party an opportunity to "air his concerns and to explore how such concerns can best be resolved, without prolonging the matter at the CCMA".Buthelezi said he would be happy if the matter was settled outside of the commission as long "as I am financially compensated"...

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