Christmas has come early for the KwaZulu-Natal royal household and traditional leadership after receiving an additional R60m from the cash-strapped provincial government.
Finance MEC Francois Rodgers announced on Tuesday, while tabling the midterm budget speech at the KZN legislature, that treasury had allocated over 8% of its limited fiscal resources to activities around traditional leadership.
After last month’s announcement by National Treasury that it is not making any amendments to the provincial budgets for the first time in years, Rodgers said the KZN treasury will allocate R729.3m from the provincial cash resources to various departments.
King Misuzulu KaZwelithini and the AmaZulu Royal House Trust will receive R10m from the R85m allocated to the office of the premier.
“R10m will be transferred to the Zulu Royal House Trust with respect to legal fees for His Majesty the King, as well as to provide for the new beneficiaries, in line with the current royal household’s needs,” said Rodgers.
This is in addition to the R77.5m premier Thami Ntuli announced will be allocated to the monarch in August, which was a slight decrease from the R79.5m in the previous year’s budget.
This comes within days of the provincial treasury's announcement of plans to help the royal house create its own revenue in agriculture and tourism.
On Saturday, Rodgers met King Misuzulu in Durban where he presented him with a business proposal to establish a beef production enterprise for the royal family and emerging entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.
“It is envisaged that the project, which is endorsed by His Majesty, will involve key players in the private sector who will bring the relevant expertise to ensure the long-term sustainability and income generation for the project,” said provincial treasury spokesperson Nkosikhona Duma.
Duma said that vision had previously received a nod from the late King Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu when Rodgers presented the idea to him, having recognised the benefit it would derive for the Royal House and small-scale farmers.
I am deeply passionate about the projects which we hope to establish together with His Majesty as these will strengthen the AmaZulu royal family’s autonomy and financial independence
— Francois Rodgers, KZN finance MEC
He added the meeting had also discussed plans for the royal family to venture into the tourism sector.
He said Rodgers and King Misuzulu deliberated on forming a bilateral agreement with the British royal family on historical tourism potential.
“The discussion is expected to be advanced at a meeting which is scheduled between MEC Rodgers and the British High Commission soon.”
“I am deeply passionate about the projects which we hope to establish together with His Majesty as these will strengthen the AmaZulu royal family’s autonomy and financial independence,” said Rodgers.
Meanwhile, Rodgers also announced on Tuesday that the department of community safety and liaison would commit R18.7m of the R24m budget for provincial crime fighting initiatives and the protection provided to various Amakhosi.
That budget stemmed mainly from the rollover of unspent funds from the last financial year for these two services.
A further R35.1m will cover the back pay of Izinduna and it will come from the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs’ (Cogta) budget of R69.3m.
This money, however, is another rollover from the 2023/24 financial year.
“The bulk of the Izinduna back pay funds were spent in 2023/24, but the amount requested for rollover remained unspent due to delays with the finalisation of the legal/ departmental processes of tracing beneficiaries and in the administration of deceased estates to enable 205 Izinduna to receive their back pay.”
The adjustment budget estimates comes amid severe financial challenges affecting the country, as shown by the National Treasury failing to avail any additional funds for the first time in years.
The province is also battling facing huge budgetary pressure owing mainly to the public sector wage agreements.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.