Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini on Monday criticised Congolese expatriates for their protest march to the National Assembly last week, saying their actions undermined the South African government.
Hundreds of Cape Town-based Congolese expatriates marched to Parliament, protesting against SA’s recognition of President Joseph Kabila following the recent fiercely contested elections in that country.
Officially opening the KwaZulu-Natal legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, the king said that he was disappointed by the protest.
He added that SA was home to many African expatriates who had left their home countries for various reasons and that the SA government’s gesture in accommodating the refugees should be seen as commendable.
However, he said, the march by the Congolese “cast” the SA government in a bad light.
“Now that they have been accommodated here, they have turned into radical political activists and their behaviour reflects badly on the image of South Africa,” Zwelithini said.
“I do not accept anything that seeks to undermine the image of South Africa.
“Their behaviour,” he said, “is unacceptable.
“We respect our leaders and we discourage people who protest and criticise our government and president,” said the king.
Leonard Mulunda, spokesman for the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, which organised the march, said yesterday that their aim was not to undermine the SA government but to highlight their feelings about affairs in the DRC.
Respect
“We respect the South African government and President Jacob Zuma,” he said.
“But when we feel that South Africa is not playing a good role in the African continent, we need to raise our voice and tell South Africa that what you did is not what the Congolese people were expecting from you,” Mulunda said.
“We want (DRC president) Joseph Kabila to get out so that all Congolese people can return to their country.
“We always thank South African people for the way they live with us.
“They are good people,” said Mulunda.
Last month, Zwelithini came in for criticism after remarks of his were interpreted as being homophobic.
However, the royal house and government officials later said the king had been misquoted.
Addressing the provincial government yesterday, Zwelithini said all that politicians should ensure that this year became the year of peace, harmony and co-operation in bringing about service delivery.
The king also condemned corruption, saying that it was a major contributor to the government’s inability to deliver service at a faster pace.
He called for a war against the poaching of rhinos, saying that syndicates had killed more than 800 rhinos for their horns during the last three years.
“Without any preventative measures, these numbers are set to increase,” he said.
“It is true that war is immoral, but a war against the poaching of rhinos is worth it,” Zwelithini added. - The Mercury