Durban - Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini holds a special privilege in that he is the only man with the powers to declare war in the kingdom.
That is according to the Durban-based lobby group Injeje YamaNguni (United Council for Nguni Youth).
Early this month the group drew the ire of senior government leaders after it compiled and published contact details of public servants, including those of President Jacob Zuma.
On Monday the group released a stinging rebuttal of the KwaZulu-Natal ANC Youth League’s declaration that the province was a “no-go area” for Julius Malema’s “stinky feet” and his EFF brigade.
Injeje was not impressed, saying: “To clarify, only the one who is divinely endowed to declare war in KwaZulu is Isilo Samabandla Onke, King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.”
Malema was, at the weekend, accused by the ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal of planning a civil war. The league’s secretary, Thanduxolo Sabelo, said the ruling party’s young lions would have none of this and that they were preparing for a massive march to the Durban High Court next month. The country’s judiciary was accused of being party to the ploy to undermine the ANC-led government.
“There is nobody who has the right to rally the people of the monarch to a war without having followed cultural protocol and gained the consent of the monarch,” Injeje said.
The group said South Africans were welcome in the kingdom “until such time as our monarch indicates otherwise”. It advised the ANC Youth League leadership to be prudent “before making statements which are beyond their jurisdiction”.
Sabelo was baffled when approached for comment, saying the league had not declared war. “We never declared war. What we did say is that, since Parliament is a no-go area for President Jacob Zuma, made by the EFF – then KwaZulu-Natal is a no-go area for Julius Malema and his party. We are clear. The ANC is the ruling party in KwaZulu-Natal, it ends there.
The Mercury