Durban - The crowd at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium had come out on Monday to defend Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, said Thulani Zulu, head of regiments from Ulundi.
Zwelithini had never said people should attack foreigners, Zulu said.
“Government should deal with the criminals who are carrying out the acts of violence against foreigners. If the king had said people should attack foreigners there would be serious bloodshed,” he said.
Jabu Nzimande from Berea told ANA that while they did not condone the beating and killing of foreigners, they were welcome to leave South Africa.
“Government must speak the truth, they must take action against the drug lords who are foreigners,” Nzimande said. “We voted for freedom, but not to be ruled by foreigners. They are selling drugs and destroying our communities.”
Zwelithini arrived at the stadium hortly before 11am to address the imbizo on xenophobic violence, but members of his official escort could be heard chanting that foreigners should leave South Africa.
Members of the king’s amabutho (regiment) could be heard chanting: “Abahambe abahambayo, sizosebenza (those who want to leave can go ahead, we are here to work).”
The amabutho are usually armed with sticks and dressed in traditional attire. On Monday, some were wearing Zulu warrior attire while others were clothed in civilian dress.
There were no foreigners present at the imbizo with the crowd consisting of mainly hostel dwellers, most armed with sticks and knobkierries.
ANA