Durban - King Goodwill Zwelithini was justified in calling for a ban on government banners at his traditional ceremonies as the items were easily associated with the governing party, said traditional expert Professor Jabulani Maphalala.
Justifying the king’s call, Maphalala, of the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims, said if the display of government banners had gone unchallenged, they could easily be used by politicians for the wrong reasons which might undermine the king’s status.
But Durban political analyst Protas Madlala disagreed, saying that since the provincial government was the main sponsor of the events, it deserved “visibility”.
While addressing King Shaka’s commemoration, also known as Umkhosi weLembe, at KwaDukuza at the weekend, the king expressed dismay at the provincial government’s flags displayed in front of a marquee.
Also present were his traditional prime minister, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Premier Senzo Mchunu and other dignitaries. Some flags had pictures of Mchunu while others were from the provincial Department of Arts and Culture. None depicted the king or King Shaka.
Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo later apologised, promising the mistake would not be repeated.
Maphalala said the fact that Mchunu was a leader of the ANC in the province would have alienated other people who did not support the party.
“People might misinterpret the king as being biased in favour of a certain party.”
He said to make everyone feel welcome at the events only flags with the face of King Shaka and the current king should be put up.
Madlala argued: “It has been always the norm that a sponsor be allowed visibility through flags. This happened at stadiums where corporates had sponsored soccer matches. The premier is a premier for everyone, whether you are ANC, IFP or DA, and should be treated as a government leader. It never happened that I put my money on an event but was denied visibility.”
Previously, when the IFP had been in power in the province, the king had been accused of aligning himself with the party. But once the ANC had taken over power, he had allegedly changed his loyalty in favour of the new ruling party.
The IFP leader in the provincial legislature, Blessed Gwala, and DA provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango attacked the government over the use of the flags. They alleged this was to benefit the ANC during the coming local government elections.
“Although the IFP is not in control in KwaZulu-Natal, we are part of the government as we are in the legislature … we want to apologise to His Majesty for the banners that depicted the faces of politicians rather than the images of His Majesty and King Shaka.”
Mncwango, who is also the leader of the DA in the eThekwini Municipality, said the government should stop funding royal ceremonies.
“The city spent R60 000 of ratepayers’ money sending nine councillors to the annual reed dance,” he said.”
The king’s spokesman Prince Mbonisi Zulu declined to elaborate on what the king had said. “The king’s statement should never be interpreted. It is exactly what he said, because by interpreting it we might get it wrong. It would be up to them (the provincial government) to decide what they do about it,” said Zulu.
Mchunu declined to comment last week.
The Mercury