Johannesburg - Social media on Tuesday was divided over Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini's call for a guarantee that land belonging to Zulu people would not be expropriated.
Using his Sunday speech at the annual Shaka Day celebration - which marks the death of the Zulu nation’s most famous leader Shaka - Zwelithini demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa not only visit him again but give guarantees that the Ingonyama Trust would not be targeted in the country’s much-debated land reform programme.
Speaking in isiZulu as he addressed the crowd at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Zwelithini said Ramaphosa “must come down to KwaZulu-Natal with something in black and white to assure all the Zulus that their land will not be touched”.
His comments were met with mixed reactions, with some vowing to stand behind the king while others accused him of "playing a dangerous tribal game".
Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama meanwhile said the BLF stood by the king, calling on government to leave the Ingonyama Trust and instead focus on expropriating "land of the thieves".
Land thieves are misleading the king after anti Black politicians threatened the Ingonyama Trust. BLF stands with the king. #HandsoffIngonyamaTrust expropriate land of land thieves now! https://t.co/NYtYmigDMJ
— andile (@Mngxitama) October 9, 2018
See more reactions:
I think it is unfair for the Zulu King to ensure that only his land is protected from Land Expropriation, what about the Monarchs in South Africa? And if government wants a fair system where people own the land they need to ensure that the king gives the land to his people #land
— Annonymous_SA (@SaAnnonymous) October 9, 2018
ZULU King thinks that he is untouchable. He is always misfiring
— Steven Xakani (@StevenXakani) October 9, 2018
Zulu king is playing a dangerous tribal game. King Zwelithini knows the ANC & politicians hv no choice bt to bend over backwards for him. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Is Zwelithini bigger than the Constitution? Nw he wants people 2kneel b4 him to win elections
— Secretary Of Black Twittter (@princey_SA) October 9, 2018
Zulu King is just trying to protect the interests of his people just like Afrikaner's did in the 1800's so this parties have common goal
— One Nation under God (@Gcina34614746) October 9, 2018
Hail to our Zulu King , we are behind you Majesty
— Zwelly (@RicardoCokka) October 9, 2018
The Zulu king is being quoted out of context and those that are excited about his comments that people must come kneel must listen to the whole speech because he say "they must come kneel and clarify that they won't touch his land" which only makes sense.
— SANativesNews (@sanativesnews) October 9, 2018