The KwaZulu-Natal government has bought top-of-the-range cars for the queens of the late king Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. Premier Sihle Zikalala handed over the vehicles in Ulundi in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
A dispute about who the rightful heir to the throne has not yet been resolved by the royal family.
Despite the ongoing wrangling over who the new Zulu King should be, Zikalala says they will continue to support the royal household.
Zikalala says they made an undertaking to carry on with the upkeep of the palaces even after Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu’s passing in March this year.
#sabcnews #sabckzn KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala has handed over cars to the late AmaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini Queens and Queen Mother Mavis Zungu. pic.twitter.com/8bBdU8eZOa
— Nonkululeko Hlophe (@Leko3) December 17, 2021
He says these are projects the provincial government had committed to while the King was alive. A total of R18-million has been budgeted for the renovation of the palaces.
“That everything that we committed to His Majesty King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu we fulfill all those things. We had agreed that we will complete purchasing cars for the Queens, we have committed ourselves to continue supporting the Royal House. What we withdrew is not the support to the Royal House per se but we withdrew the budget events that normally take place.”
KwaZulu-Natal government to continue to support and fund the AmaZulu Royal Household:
The premier’s office issued a statement in September following Shaka Day, that the provincial government will not support cultural events held by the royal household until the succession is finalised.
Zikalala explains, “We can’t have events or support events for now because of the ongoing issue of the process of appointing the King which is sub-judice for now so we are not going to support events but we are going to continue looking after all palaces and as we were doing during the time of the late King.”
#sabcnews #sabckzn In pictures the top of the range cars bought by KZN government for late AmaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini's Queens and Queen Mother. pic.twitter.com/LtrDb90o2b
— Nonkululeko Hlophe (@Leko3) December 17, 2021
Meanwhile, Zikalala says government is concerned about the prolonged process of appointing a new King for the Zulu nation.
“The policy of government that we are following for political office bearers we don’t buy a car that cost more R800 000. The cars that are here are below R800 000. It is in the interest of the whole nation, the Zulu nation as a whole it is equal in the interest of us as government that we eventually have the King therefore the prolonged matter is of course a concern to us and also a concern to the people of KwaZulu-Natal.”
Court applications in which king Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu’s will is being challenged by his first wife – Queen Sibongile Dlamini – and two of her daughters, are expected to be heard in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on the 10th of January.
