Durban - The KwaZulu-Natal government says it is all systems go for the ceremony this weekend where Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini will enter the royal kraal.
The cattle-kraal-entering ceremony is performed in line with Zulu customs in order for the king to fulfil the necessary rituals in celebration of his installation as king of the Zulu nation, and the provincial government’s support for the event has been seen as a further endorsement of King Misuzulu as the rightful heir to the throne.
The statement from the provincial government yesterday comes after confusion was created as some members of the royal family have endorsed the eldest son of late King Goodwill Zwelithini, Prince Simakade, as the heir to the throne.
They took the matter a step further this past weekend when Prince Simakade entered the kraal.
In response to questions from the media yesterday, KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said: “We wish to confirm that we have adopted an integrated approach involving provincial government departments and municipalities to ensure the success of this weekend’s activities.
“A team of senior government officials representing different spheres of government is involved in the planning and execution of the historic activities which will usher in a new era.”
She added that the move was in line with the mandate by the governing party, to ensure that the monarchy is positioned as an institution of strategic value in the future of KwaZulu-Natal.
She added that the Royal Household Directorate, which is located in the Office of the Premier, will also play a greater role in the public engagements of the monarch in order to generate positive publicity for the province.
“We want to ensure that all public appearances of His Majesty create a unique but appealing image about the province. His Majesty is a direct descendant of Shaka Zulu – a military genius who made the Zulu world famous.
“The Zulu monarchy, as an institution recognised by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, gives this province the uniqueness that we must utilise as a competitive edge to advance the social and economic lives of our people and the prosperity of our region,” Dube-Ncube said.
Reacting to the statement, Prince Mandlakapheli, who is among royals who support Prince Simakade’s claim to the throne, said they were unmoved by the pronouncement.
“The fact is President Cyril Ramaphosa has recognised Prince Misuzulu, so the provincial government would not do anything that is out of line with the national government.
“As the royal family, we have our standpoint and we shall defend our institution,” he told The Mercury yesterday.
He insisted that they were still awaiting a response from Ramaphosa regarding their call for Prince Simakade to be officially recognised as the successor to late King Zwelithini.
“We want to hear the response from the president in order to formulate our next move. If he does not respond within a specified time frame then we will consider our next move,” the prince continued.
He also questioned Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s elevation as a voice of authority on Zulu royal matters.
“One issue that needs to be clarified is that Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi is not from the Zulu royal house and therefore should not be accorded the status of authority,” he added.
This was in reaction to a statement from Buthelezi, who is traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch and nation, in which he sought to explain the entering of the kraal ceremony, saying it did not amount to the anointing of the king of the Zulu nation.
He said that it was closer in nature to a traditional prayer and ritual wishing the king well and declaring the people’s loyalty to him.
Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders, inkosi Sifiso Shinga, also confirmed they would be attending the ceremony.
“This is an important occasion and as the institution we will be in attendance,” said Shinga.
University of KwaZulu-Natal academic and cultural expert Dr Gugu Mazibuko said the current dispute over succession should not come as a surprise as over the years such disputes had been recorded in the Zulu nation’s history.
She noted how people had also expressed their views on social-media platforms, adding that this was an illustration of how many were passionate about matters of the royal family as they identified with it.
“We know what happened from the time of King Shaka, how King Cetshwayo also ascended the throne. Thankfully, we now live in an era when we have the courts of law that provide solutions in the event of disputes,” said the academic.
She expressed confidence that the dispute would eventually be resolved, enabling the royal family to go about its business.