DURBAN: President Jacob Zuma has called for the Zulu monarch to be accorded respect as the nation at the weekend celebrated 200 years since King Shaka united disparate tribes in what is now known as KwaZulu-Natal.
Speaking exclusively in isiZulu at the Umkhosi Welembe celebration at Moses Mabhida Stadium, where thousands had gathered for the anniversary on Heritage Day, Zuma bemoaned the current state of South Africa, saying that black men were not raised to abuse women and children.
King Goodwill Zwelithini said parents needed to lead. This was in line with Higher Education Minister and SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande telling SACP members attending the Moses Mabhida Memorial Lecture in Pietermaritzburg on Friday that the parents had “pawned” their children off to the state.
“The parents of students in universities are nowhere to be seen when their children are facing off with the managers of the universities and the government,” said Zwelithini.
The event celebrated 200 years since the formation of the Zulu nation and 45 years of Zwelithini reign.
“The protesters are destroying the infrastructure that was used and enabled the oppressors to govern us. If we destroy it, it means we will never reach the level where we are able to govern ourselves,” said the king.
“Parents need to take their role; no child belongs to the government. It cannot be that the government could talk until the process is finalised and parents are nowhere. Who do these children belong to?”
Nzimande said parents were failing their children and the government.
“Where are the parents when their children are marching for Nzimande? It cannot be that they hand over their children to our institutions and then fold their hands when there are problems.”
The recent student anger over tuition fees has been directed at Nzimande after he announced that universities could increase fees for next year, but not by more than eight percent. Nzimande also offered a commitment that the government would pay the increase for students from poor backgrounds.
He described the leaders of the protest as hired guns for the rich and imperialists.
Nzimande said the students were failing to emulate the sacrifices of the likes of Moses Mabhida, who juggled school and work to put himself through school.