The Durban Equality Court yesterday was transformed into the venue for a traditional ceremony as throngs of Zulu maidens, warriors and others in traditional attire arrived to support Ukhozi FM DJ Ngizwe Mchunu.
Mchunu launched a R10-million discrimination and defamation suit against King Shaka International Airport, agriculture department official Thalamothalo Phaka, and the SA Revenue Service's customs and excise department after, he claims, Phaka threatened to destroy his traditional shield (ihawu) because it was "infested with foot-and-mouth disease".
In his affidavit, Mchunu said he flew to Dubai to participate in a tourism event in April. He was to highlight African tradition and culture. He took his knobkerrie and shield on the trip.
When he returned, he forgot his shield at the airport and returned for it on May 8 but customs officials, he said, refused to return it.
Dumisani Goba, founder of the SA Traditional Music Awards, told throngs of supporters that they should defend the Zulu tradition.
"Our fight will not end here. We will continue in the Constitutional Court if need be," he said.
Mchunu told his supporters he went to the US in 2009 to give President Barack Obama an ihawu to congratulate him on becoming that country's first black president. The American accepted the gift.
"Obama did not say that the shield might be containing foot and mouth disease because he respected the gift and the Zulu tradition.
"It is shocking that, in my own country, some people might treat me the way I was treated," he said.
The case was postponed to October 17.
The litigants will go to King Shaka International on September 5 to view security-camera footage of the incident.
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