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Efforts are underway in KwaZulu-Natal to ensure the stability of Ingonyama Trust following conflicting messages about the appointment of its new Chairperson and the new Board.

This past weekend, Royal Communications issued a statement stating that King Misuzulu was scheduled to meet with  Mr Jerome Ngwenya and Inkosi Mzimela in Durban today to finalize the appointment process.

“Ingonyama Trust is an important entity to the Zulu nation as it manages land which is the legacy of the departed and the heritage of the living and those yet to be born. It is ISILO’s view that   those who are appointed to the board must be immersed in the understanding of land matters and management of this precious asset to the Zulu nation,” it was stated in the statement signed off by Nhlanhla Mtaka.

Meanwhile, the founder of Indonsa Yesizwe Think Tank, Prof Musa Xulu suggested in an interview on eCNA this morning that the King should take over as the chairperson of the trust to ensure stability.

Xulu expressed his concerns about conflicting statements from the King and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who said he was not informed about the appointment of Inkosi Mzimela. 

“We need to do everything to avoid any tension or a rift that could be created by  the appointment of the chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board. The 1994 Ingonyama Trust Act, as amended in 1997 and many times after that, provides for the King himself to be appointed as the chair of the trust.  If he cannot, than he can nominate a proxy. From the look of things, whoever is nominated will belong to one or the other faction,” Xulu stated in an interview. 

He proposed that King should take over his responsibility and be the chair of the Board. “All the disputes are around the proxy not the King himself. The act primarily appoints the King,” he emphasized.

Many people across the province have pinned their hopes on the outcome of today’s meeting between the King, Ngwenya and Mzimela.  

At the time of publishing, it was not clear whether the meeting between the King and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi was also scheduled to take place in Durban today.

Issued by Indonsa Think Tank