Durban - King Goodwill Zwelithini’s spokesman, Prince Thulani, said on Monday there would be no formal investigation into the chaos that marred the annual reed dance in Nongoma at the weekend.
“This is something that happens everywhere, like in schools,” he said.
He said the king was saddened by what had happened, but understood that this was a common occurrence.
Pandemonium broke out at the festival when screaming maidens nearly caused a stampede – apparently when some claimed to be possessed by demons.
Such was the chaos that President Jacob Zuma, who attended the event, was escorted to safety by security and returned only once the hysteria had died down.
The first incident of screaming started on Friday evening, but things returned to normal on Saturday after a prayer to chase away evil spirits was held.
However, the hysteria broke out again as Zwelithini delivered his speech on Saturday. This angered the monarch who remarked that there were people at the festival who had come with bad spirits to try to spoil the event, which was held on a football field in Nongoma.
Some maidens ran away when they became afraid of those screaming and rolling on the ground. Others were hurt as police tried to control them.
Daily News