Zulu traditional leaders, or Izinduna in Gauteng, say suggestions to do away with the Ingonyama Trust is an insult to Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and the entire Zulu nation.
They have threatened to defend it and protect their land with all they have.
The Trust, under Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, owns close to three million hectares of land in KwaZulu-Natal. Last year, a high level delegation led by former president, Kgalema Motlanthe recommended that the Ingonyama Trust Act be scrapped and land be transferred to the Agriculture Department, which would then distribute it.
Izinduna gathered at Kwa Mai Mai in Johannesburg on Sunday. Chairperson of the Izinduna in Gauteng, Simphiwe Mhlongo says this matter has angered them.
“We Izinduna Zamakhosi in Gauteng are assembled here to raise our concerns and anger on the issue of Ingonyama Trust. Plans by the government, especially the ruling party, to dissolve the Ingonyama Trust is regarded by us as an insult to his majesty and the entire Zulu nation. We strongly support our king and Amakhosi on all attempts and means to protect the land of our birth.”
