The minister of land reform and rural development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, has expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his discussions with king Misuzulu KaZwelithini. The engagement, which took place at Kwakhangelamankengane Palace in Nongoma in KwaZulu-Natal, addressed operational challenges within the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB).
Following months of tensions over the operations and who is responsible for the Ingonyama Trust, Nyhontso met with the king to iron out differences.
The planned visit had initially been scheduled for late last year but had been postponed due to emerging developments within the ITB. These developments included the dissolution of the ITB by KaZwelithini in December 2024, which the minister had contested, stating that only the executive authority (the minister) had the power to dissolve the board.
Nyhontso was accompanied by a delegation that included the deputy minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, the chairperson of the portfolio committee on cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Dr Zweli Mkhize, as well as senior officials from the department of land reform and rural development.
The latest intervention by Nyhontso seeks to address existing governance challenges and enhance the functionality of the trust, the department said in a statement.
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Investigation into Ingonyama Trust
According to the department, following the deliberations, the minister announced the steps he would take to implement the king’s directives in bringing stability to the trust.
“The minister will establish a 12-person committee within seven days to conduct an investigation into the Ingonyama Trust. The committee must comprise of persons with legal qualifications and knowledge of Zulu culture among others. The minister is to report back to his majesty within a month,” the statement said.
The minister reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Ingonyama Trust operates effectively. “I am committed to ensuring that the Ingonyama Trust is fully functional and is able to deliver quality services to the people of KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.
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