The Zulu royal household on Monday said “reckless translation” was to blame for two newspapers quoting King Goodwill Zwelithini condemning same sex relationships.
“Traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same-sex relationships. There was nothing like that and if you do it, you must know that you are rotten,” he was quoted as saying in The Times.
These remarks were reportedly made at the 133rd commemoration of the Battle of Isandlwana on Sunday.
The function was attended by President Jacob Zuma.
The spokesman for the royal household, Prince Mbonisi Zulu, said the king had at no stage condemned gay relations or same-sex relations.
“In the context of rampant sexual abuse, His Majesty remarked: ‘During the good olden days, our forefathers dedicated their lives for the good of the nation. Men would go for months in the battles to fight the enemies without their wives, but did not harass each other sexually, and there were no cases of rape of women. Nowadays you even have men who rape other men. This is a clear sign of moral decay. We condemn those involved – no matter who you are’ he said.”
The Zulu royal household issued the statement after the SA Human Rights Commission said it would be writing to the king after reports that he had made homophobic comments.
“The commission will be writing to the king to ascertain whether he did in fact make such statements, and if he did, to immediately retract them,” HRC spokesman Vincent Moaga said.
“The commission is also concerned that the king made his utterances in the presence of President Jacob Zuma,” he said.
The commission planned to obtain transcripts of Zwelithini’s recorded speech to begin its work. - Cape Argus