King Misuzulu
By Lerato Mpembe
AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has instructed Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso to set up a 12-member team to investigate matters concerning the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB). This directive, announced by Nyhontso during a media briefing on Tuesday at the KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace in Nongoma, marks a significant step toward resolving the ongoing controversy surrounding the governance of the trust, which manages vast tracts of land in KwaZulu-Natal on behalf of the Zulu nation.
The meeting between King Misuzulu and Minister Nyhontso, the first since a fallout in December 2024, aimed to mend strained relations and address allegations of mismanagement and disrespect within the ITB. Nyhontso revealed that the 12-member committee will include members of the Zulu Royal House, Amakhosi (traditional leaders), former Health Minister and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize, and two legal practitioners. The team’s mandate is to investigate the board’s operations, including allegations of financial mismanagement, and determine whether a new board should be established.
A Historic Reconciliation: The Role of “Ukushweleza”
The meeting was not without its symbolic gestures. To repair the rift caused by the December 2024 suspension of ITB members by King Misuzulu—an action later reversed by Nyhontso—the minister presented three cows as part of the traditional Zulu practice of “ukushweleza,” a gesture of seeking forgiveness. This act, rooted in Zulu culture, was demanded by amabutho (Zulu regiments) present at the meeting, who sought an apology from Nyhontso for what King Misuzulu perceived as “disrespect” after the minister overturned his decision without prior consultation.
A well-placed palace insider told News24, “He is expected to bring the cattle as a sign of ukushweleza for the manner in which he handled the issue. The biggest bone of contention is that his majesty wrote to the minister through his attorney numerous times, and the minister did not respond to his majesty.” The insider added that Nyhontso’s public statements, asserting that King Misuzulu lacked the authority to suspend the board, exacerbated tensions, as the minister failed to engage directly with the monarch before making those claims.
Nyhontso, speaking to the media, clarified that the cows were not funded by the government or his department but were donated by local community members, reflecting his role as a traditional leader alongside his ministerial duties. “When I visit the kings, I always remember I’m not only a minister but also a traditional man from a traditional authority under a king and under a chief. I do everything that is done in those areas because I’m part of them,” he explained.
Background to the Conflict
The controversy over the Ingonyama Trust Board erupted in December 2024 when King Misuzulu suspended six board members, citing allegations of mismanagement, financial irregularities, and disrespect toward his authority as the sole trustee of the trust. The Ingonyama Trust, established in 1994, holds approximately 2.8 million hectares of land in KwaZulu-Natal, representing a significant portion of the province’s rural areas and playing a critical role in the livelihoods of millions of Zulu people.
However, Minister Nyhontso, acting on legal advice from Parliament, declared King Misuzulu’s suspension unlawful, asserting that only the minister has the authority to appoint, suspend, or dismiss ITB members under South African law. A parliamentary legal opinion, reported widely in February 2025 by outlets like News24, IOL, and The Citizen, confirmed that the king “acted beyond the scope of his powers” in suspending the board, a decision that further strained relations between the monarchy and the government.
Posts on X from early March 2025 indicate growing public interest in this issue, with users expressing mixed sentiments. Some praised King Misuzulu’s efforts to protect Zulu land rights, while others criticized the government’s handling of traditional leadership roles. These sentiments reflect broader debates about the balance between traditional authority and modern governance in South Africa.
The 12-Member Committee: Composition and Mandate
During the meeting, King Misuzulu outlined specific requirements for the 12-member committee, emphasizing the need for individuals with cultural understanding, legal expertise, and historical ties to the Zulu nation. Nyhontso confirmed that the team will include:
• Three members of the Zulu Royal House
• Two legal practitioners
• Amakhosi (traditional leaders)
• Former Health Minister and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize
• Other individuals with knowledge of cultural and governance issuesThe committee’s mandate is to investigate allegations of financial mismanagement, including reports of millions of rands lost—figures ranging from R22 million to R30 million, according to Nyhontso’s media briefing. These allegations involve the sale of land and other irregularities, though the exact amounts and timelines remain unclear. The team will also assess the board’s governance practices, the relationship between the king and the ITB, and whether a new board should be formed.
Nyhontso set a seven-day timeline to establish the committee, after which it will be presented to President Cyril Ramaphosa before being submitted to King Misuzulu for final approval. “There’s no timeline for the committee’s investigation itself; that will depend on their findings and recommendations,” Nyhontso said, adding that the process aims to “establish the true facts about what is really happening” within the ITB.
Communication Breakdown and Legal Clarity
A key issue discussed during the meeting was the communication breakdown between King Misuzulu and Minister Nyhontso. The king’s letters to the minister, sent through his legal representatives, allegedly went unanswered, while Nyhontso claimed he never received them. Similarly, the minister’s correspondence to the palace reportedly failed to reach King Misuzulu, prompting both parties to acknowledge a need to restructure their communication channels.
Nyhontso addressed concerns about his authority versus the king’s, stating, “The law is very clear—it is the minister that dismisses the board. We also explained it there today, and everybody understands that. That’s the reason why the king called me and said, ‘Let’s establish a committee to look at this,’ because he also understands that, after sufficient evidence, you can dissolve the board.”
This legal clarity, supported by the parliamentary opinion, underscores the tension between traditional leadership and statutory authority in South Africa. However, King Misuzulu’s directive to form the committee suggests a willingness to collaborate, even as he seeks to address perceived disrespect and mismanagement within the ITB.
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