Inkosi Melizwe Dlamini, of Nhlangwini, near Highflats in southern KwaZulu-Natal, says he is considering suing King Goodwill Zwelithini, who allegedly insulted him and his “kingdom” at the weekend.
Dlamini told the media in Durban on Wednesday that he was consulting his lawyers in preparation for a law suit.
At an event on Saturday attended by Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube, Zwelithini said those who wanted to be kings in KwaZulu-Natal “are mad and possessed by demons”.
This was considered to be a reference to Dlamini, who has lodged an application with the Nhlapho commission for his chieftaincy to be elevated to the level of a kingship.
The commission was set up to mediate in traditional leadership disputes and claims.
On Wednesday, Dlamini said his Nhlangwini nation was under attack.
“We are also of the view that some of these statements constitute elements of hate speech, incitement and possible defamation,” he said.
Dlamini said his dignity as a king had been deliberately impaired, while the state organs had done nothing to protect him. He said Saturday’s “insults” were in addition to many others that had been made against him and his “nation” in the past.
“We are being called names; we are being referred to as being possessed by demons, and we are being threatened with death. We ask ourselves what sins we have committed in fighting for that which we believe rightfully belongs to us? We have placed our historical records before the commission to determine our claims,” he said, adding that he was not being given the opportunity to make the claim in an environment free from interference.
Dlamini’s application for a fully fledged kingship triggered angry reaction from the king’s supporters.
The king’s spokesman, Prince Mboniseni Zulu, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
However, the office of the premier, which is the political home of Zulu royal matters, said it was too busy with serious matters to concern itself with “petty issues”.
“We feel that it would be a waste of precious time to comment on petty issues,” said a spokesman for Premier Zweli Mkhize.