King Misuzulu KaZwelithini is threatening to take government to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of trying to curtail his powers through weakening traditional leadership with the intention of defrauding the Zulus of their land.
Addressing a meeting with amakhosi in Ulundi on Thursday, the king also accused the Ingonyama Trust Board, which he chairs, of sidelining him.
“I am here to report to you as your king and the chair of the Ingonyama Trust Board that we are in a delicate period. We are not getting along in that board, they are refusing to accept me.
“They want me out, but I don't know how because I am the sole trustee, but now when I am chairing it, it seems there is a problem,” he said.
The king did not provide specific details.
“I am not here to scare you, but things are not going well,” said the king.
I asked Traditional Prime Minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi if holding a meeting that is this critical government and the governing party by extension six days before an election won't seem like he's electioneering for the IFP using the Zulu Kingdom - this is his response @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/OPEpudSlEv
— Zimasa (@ZimasaMatiwane) May 23, 2024
The king said he was saddened by tensions between traditional leaders and government over the trust as “these were issues when my father was still alive and are still an issue now — all because of land.
“They want to deal with us, they hate us for our land.”
He also called on amakhosi to follow through what happened during an incident at kwaCeza in March, where his traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi was disrupted by ANC provincial chair Sboniso Duma while on the podium.
Another grievance the king has against the government and the ANC is the ending of his praise singer Buzetsheni Mdletshe's contract. Mdletshe was on the payroll of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government.
The king said he was prepared to call on international courts in his fight to protect the land of the Zulus.
“It's painful that we are going into elections without these issues being discussed, but if they (the South African government) can take Jerusalem (Israel) to the International Court of Justice, I can also open a case against them at the ICJ.
“No land will be taken under my reign, I’m going to my uncle (Mswati III) I'm going to tell him I’m opening a case,” he added.
Buthelezi later told TimesLIVE the king did not say he would open a case with the ICJ, rather that he would consider international mediation should a need arise on matters relating to government and the trust.
International mediation, Buthelezi said, is an option in the 1994 agreement, which is the basis for the creation of the Ingonyama Trust.
“Members of the board of Ingonyama Trust are not working hand in hand with the king to advance the cause of the Zulu people, therefore, the amakhosi resolved to request an urgent meeting with minister Thoko Didiza and the board to understand why,” Buthelezi explained.
