EDITORIAL | Bury oppressive ‘rules’ and wasteful royal expenses with the king

Any loss of life, especially that of a larger-than-life figure, brings with it tons of tears for those who loved and/or revered the deceased. 

The recent death of King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu is as saddening as it is an opportunity for reflection on the new chapter it opens not only for his subjects but all interested and affected by traditional leadership.

To avoid a vacuum in leadership, the royal family will this week announce his successor, most likely Prince Misuzulu, son of the great wife, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini. But the dawn of the new era for amaZulu means whoever takes over has an opportunity to reflect on their father’s reign and decide for themselves what kind of leader they wish to be.

Many do hope that while the new leader will respect and protect rites and traditions believed sacrosanct by his people, he too will not be a prisoner of culture, understanding that culture is never static but dynamic. 

One of the issues fresh from the funeral of King Zwelithini is why, in 2021, he needed to be buried only by men. Accepting it was his preference and right, we must, however, ask what message this sends to millions of amaZulu women who looked upon him as a leader for all. Given the damage done by apartheid, colonialism and African institutions such as traditional leadership on the rights, especially economic, of women, the new king has a blank page to write a new, empowering history for all his people. 

There is no value to be found in rigid, exclusionary and oppressive “rules” that govern traditional leadership. In Limpopo, Princess Masindi Mphephu has had to fight regent Toni Mphephu-Ramabulana for years, culminating in a Constitutional Court decision that saw her ascend the throne. The point though is that the new amaZulu king, whoever it will be, should not have to be forced by any court to do right by their subjects. The SA of today is markedly different to the one Shaka Zulu lived in.

There is no value to be found in rigid, exclusionary and oppressive ‘rules’ that govern traditional leadership.

While the monarchy has a fair share of reflection to do, all tax-paying South Africans will also be looking at this new dawn, wondering whether this marks an end to profligate expenditures by the royal house. Last year, R71.3m in hard-earned taxes were allocated to the royal house. In return for what? Little. Very little.

Granted, the royal families organise cultural events to celebrate our diverse cultures. They are a historical representation of where we come from. It is also true that millions of people in rural areas still see these traditional ways of governance as legitimate, more so because of dysfunctional municipalities.

That said, nothing still justifies spending R71.3m taxes on a family whose contribution to modern life is, at best, arguable and at worst, close to zilch. In an economy not merely wrecked by Covid-19, but one teetering on the brink of a precipice because of unmanageable debt, this expenditure is akin to stealing from the poor.

If indeed many in rural and urban areas battle the ignominy of a life of want each day because of our unacceptably high levels of poverty and unemployment, the scarce funds spent on King Zwelithini’s family can’t be justified and ought urgently to be reviewed. 

Ascending to royalty shouldn’t be a ticket to a life of luxury without much care about the sea of poverty and sustenance of gendered oppression for women around us.