Revenue-generation strategies can propel the Zulu royal family to self-sustenance and uplift local communities, MEC for finance in KwaZulu-Natal Francois Rodgers says.
Rodgers is exploring profit-generation avenues such as using land for farming and leveraging Zulu history for commercial tourism for the Zulu royal family to achieve financial independence.
“That’s something I was driving when I was on the opposition benches with the late king. Last year I had an opportunity to discuss this with the new king — looking at ways to make the royal household self-sustainable — and it's something that I am going to continue to explore and drive, and am possibly looking at putting together a document,” he said.
Rodgers said he planted a seed with the executive that they look at ways to make the royal household financially independent and uplift the community through profitable businesses and job creation.
This year, the royal household trust received an annual budget of R77m from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government — a slight decrease from last year’s R79m.
Not to be confused with King Misuzulu’s annual salary, the royal household trust is also funded exclusively by the government. It was established 15 years ago to provide financial support for the royal household, including the educational needs of the king’s children, the running costs of his palaces and provision for his queens.
The trust has over the years been criticised as a burden to taxpayers and the former opposition leader, now finance MEC under the government of provincial unity, believes an opportunity exists for developing viable businesses.
“His majesty has a lot of agricultural land. Agriculture is one of the key industries to create sustainability and ensure food security, and the department of agriculture should be getting involved on that front and developing that agricultural land for economic revenue generation. I don't think we have given enough attention to that,” Rodgers said.
Citing the Botswana Meat Commission, a profitable business that generates millions of pula in revenue, Rodgers said a similar model could ensure the royal household holds a large stake in the business and a portion of the profit would go to the royal household.
We need to explore a model ... where we can make the royal household financially independent and uplift emerging farmers. It's a model we can develop
— Francois Rodgers, KZN finance MEC
“Small and emerging meat farmers have livestock which are put onto a register. They get assistance with veterinary services and how to feed them. Those animals are then purchased by the Botswana Meat Commission.
“They slaughter about 1,500 cattle a day for export or local consumption. Imagine if we could get a project like that off the ground and the meat has the stamp of the Zulu royal household,” he said.
“We need to explore a model of that nature, where we can make the royal household financially independent and uplift emerging farmers. It's a model we can develop.”
The history of the Zulu people and the royal family can also generate tourism revenue.
“That can bring massive commercial tourism. There are a lot of Europeans fascinated by the history of South Africa, the history of Shaka Zulu — and I don't think it's something we drive enough. It's not co-ordinated and that’s something we should explore as revenue generators,” said Rodgers.
“We are getting little money from the Treasury and we need to think out of the box about revenue-generating opportunities.”
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