Just days before the country goes to its seventh national election, tension has escalated between agriculture, land reform and rural development minister Thoko Didiza and AmaZulu prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi. Didiza urges Buthelezi to “stop lying” and “to desist from making false statements” about Ingonyama Trust.
Didiza strongly refutes Buthelezi’s claims regarding the Ingonyama Trust, emphasising her lack of authority over its governance and operations. She asserts that the trust should not be politicised and clarified its structure and her oversight role.
On Thursday, AmaZulu king Misuzulu KaZwelithini called a meeting with the Amakhosi in KwaZulu-Natal following an impasse with government over the Ingonyama Trust and the tribal land under its control and the powers vested in Amakhosi.
The gathering was called to address various matters, one of which was the king’s concerns about perceived government efforts to undermine the Ingonyama Trust, which oversees 2.8 million hectares of land controlled by the province’s traditional leaders.
War over land
The meeting was set to discuss the action plan by the royal family to stop government “efforts to take away land under the control of Amakhosi”.
In the meeting, KaZwelithini said the Zulu nation is facing difficult times and there is a need for Amakhosi to work together.
KwaZulu-Natal remains one of the hotly contested provinces ahead of next week’s elections. In the past few months, the ANC in the province has shown dissatisfaction with the appointment of traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi. Buthelezi is an Inkatha Freedom Party mayor in the Zululand district municipality.
Related stories
- Ingonyama Trust reflects the insecurity of land tenure in SA
- Farmer support: KZN municipality leads the way
Meanwhile, Didiza has hit back at Buthelezi for lying about matters concerning the Ingonyama Trust, and her office said she has requested an audience with the king over the issues.
“There are a few clarifications that need to be outlined to the Amazulu nation, and South Africa. Firstly, the Ingonyama Trust is a juristic person, supported by the Ingonyama board as a secretariat chaired by Isilo or his delegated person.
“Minister Didiza has no jurisdiction over the Ingonyama Trust regarding land governance and administrative matters except to provide oversight support to the Ingonyama Trust,” said Reggie Ngcobo, Didiza’s spokesperson.
According to Ngcobo, Didiza has no intention or legal standing to interfere with the Ingonyama Trust’s operation and its board.
“As such, the utterances by the Prime Minister are misguided and cause unnecessary confusion to the Amazulu nation and South Africa at large.
“The minister calls on Thulasizwe Buthelezi to read with comprehension the judgment on the matter between the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) and Ingonyama Trust in relation to Permission to Occupy (PTO),” he said.
Ngcobo said the minister has written to the king asking for the meeting to clarify some statements made by him in the meeting held on Thursday.
ALSO READ: Wine industry calls for policy certainty post-elections
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
