King Misuzulu KaZwelithini
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has fired the chairman of the Ingonyama Trust Board, Mr. Thanduyise Mzimela, and appointed himself as the new lead overseer of this land administration entity.
Mr. Mzimela, who had held his position since May of the previous year, found himself ousted in a reshuffling that has sparked conversation around both the internal dynamics of Zulu royal affairs and the larger conversation about land in South Africa.
In a recent development, King Misuzulu has also made significant appointments to his royal cabinet, bringing in Thulasizwe Buthelezi as the traditional prime minister, with Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza joining as the deputy.
Addressing the situation surrounding Mr. Mzimela’s dismissal, King Misuzulu said, “We made attempts to correspond with the now-former chairperson as early as September last year. However, our efforts to communicate were initially met with an absence of response.”
It has emerged that the Sheriff of Pietermaritzburg had been tasked with the formal delivery of the dismissal letter. “On the 25th of October, it was brought to my attention that Mr. Mzimela declined to receive the letter. Still, it was subsequently served by alternative means,” King Misuzulu confirmed.
In a firm declaration of his decision, King Misuzulu elaborated, “As the sole Trustee of the land in question, it is within my purview to make such changes. Mr. Mzimela was serving at my behest, and it is my decision that he no longer fulfil the role of Chairperson.”
The mandate of the Ingonyama Trust, which Mr. Mzimela was a part of leading, has historically been to manage land reserved for “the benefit, material welfare and social well-being of the members of the tribes and communities” inhabiting the lands under trust jurisdiction.
King Misuzulu’s letter also stated, “I will take up the role of Chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board, as it is crucial that the board operates with the guidance it requires. I have officially demanded Mr. Mzimela to cease all actions as Chairperson with immediate effect, as he no longer wields any authorisation in this capacity.”
Mr. Mzimela was given just a day to vacate his office, after which further “action” could be pursued, likely pertaining to legal measures.
The Ingonyama Trust, with its origins tracing back to the eve of South Africa’s democracy, is tasked with managing nearly 3 million hectares of tribal land in KwaZulu-Natal. Its history is intertwined with the negotiations around the reintegration of the then-KwaZulu bantustan into the new South African nation, ensuring that the Zulu Nation maintained control over its land.