KZN has room for just one king, says premier
28 September 2009, 07:35
By Sipho Khumalo
Political staff
There was only room in KwaZulu-Natal for one king, Premier Zweli Mkhize said at the weekend.
Speaking during a Shaka Day event in KwaDukuza, the capital of the late King Shaka, on Saturday, Mkhize said the only Dlamini kingdom existed in Swaziland and that there would be no Dlamini kingdom in KwaZulu-Natal.
The event was held as part of Heritage Day celebrations.
His statements represented a political setback for inkosi Melizwe Dlamini, of eNhlangwini, in southern KwaZulu-Natal, who is engaged in an effort to be recognised as a king and for his clan's lands to be declared a kingdom.
Mkhize's declaration came just days before Dlamini's bid for kingship is heard by the Pretoria High Court, where he has lodged papers seeking to force the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims to pronounce its position on his claim.
Commission chief executive Mpo Mokake confirmed that Dlamini had served it with papers, saying the commission would oppose the application.
Those backing the Zulu kingdom sent a clear message to Dlamini that they would not recognised a monarch other than King Goodwill Zwelithini in the province.
"As the situation stands, there is only one monarch (in KZN)," said Mkhize. "While we are aware there may be other kings in different provinces, KwaZulu-Natal has one."
He said clans had always existed and were led by their main houses, which were headed by amakhosi (the head of a clan or traditional community).
Some clans had split over the years to exist under several amakhosi - all of whom were related.
"All this does not confer a status on any of them to consider themselves of the status of monarchs. This position of a monarch has been inherited from our history.
"It is not a position that money can buy or which can be achieved through a dream or romantic aspiration as in the land of the fairytales that were told to us in our childhood days.
"We must put on record that the monarch in KwaZulu-Natal is defined in terms of the current legislation - not on the basis of self aggrandisement," Mkhize said.
"The head of the Dlamini clan is the Ngwenyama of Swaziland, (King) Mswati III, and we know of no other kingdom of the Dlamini people."
Political staff
There was only room in KwaZulu-Natal for one king, Premier Zweli Mkhize said at the weekend.
Speaking during a Shaka Day event in KwaDukuza, the capital of the late King Shaka, on Saturday, Mkhize said the only Dlamini kingdom existed in Swaziland and that there would be no Dlamini kingdom in KwaZulu-Natal.
The event was held as part of Heritage Day celebrations.
His statements represented a political setback for inkosi Melizwe Dlamini, of eNhlangwini, in southern KwaZulu-Natal, who is engaged in an effort to be recognised as a king and for his clan's lands to be declared a kingdom.
Mkhize's declaration came just days before Dlamini's bid for kingship is heard by the Pretoria High Court, where he has lodged papers seeking to force the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims to pronounce its position on his claim.
Commission chief executive Mpo Mokake confirmed that Dlamini had served it with papers, saying the commission would oppose the application.
Those backing the Zulu kingdom sent a clear message to Dlamini that they would not recognised a monarch other than King Goodwill Zwelithini in the province.
"As the situation stands, there is only one monarch (in KZN)," said Mkhize. "While we are aware there may be other kings in different provinces, KwaZulu-Natal has one."
He said clans had always existed and were led by their main houses, which were headed by amakhosi (the head of a clan or traditional community).
Some clans had split over the years to exist under several amakhosi - all of whom were related.
"All this does not confer a status on any of them to consider themselves of the status of monarchs. This position of a monarch has been inherited from our history.
"It is not a position that money can buy or which can be achieved through a dream or romantic aspiration as in the land of the fairytales that were told to us in our childhood days.
"We must put on record that the monarch in KwaZulu-Natal is defined in terms of the current legislation - not on the basis of self aggrandisement," Mkhize said.
"The head of the Dlamini clan is the Ngwenyama of Swaziland, (King) Mswati III, and we know of no other kingdom of the Dlamini people."
- This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on September 28, 2009
Durban
IOL ENTERTAINMENT
IOL TECHNOLOGY
IOL JOBS
IOL TRAVEL
IOL MOTORING
BUSINESS REPORT
