Durban - KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize wants to meet SA Human Rights Commission head Lawrence Mushwana to discuss allegations that Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini attacked gays.
“Mkhize wants to meet Mushwana to discuss this issue because he strongly feels that the public has been misled,” Mkhize's spokesman Ndabe Sibiya said on Tuesday.
He said Mkhize was disappointment at the interpretation of King Goodwill Zwelithini's speech, which he delivered on Sunday at the 133rd commemoration of the January 22, 1879 battle of Isandlwana.
According to Mkhize, the Zulu king denounced any form of abuse, and had not lashed out at gays and lesbians.
According to The Times, Zwelithini told guests in Nquthu that “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. I don't care how you feel about it. If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same sex is not acceptable,” he was quoted as saying.
Addressing members of the Royal Household portfolio committee in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature on Tuesday, Mkhize challenged anyone who claimed to have evidence of a homophobic statement made by the Zulu king to produce it. He played a DVD of Zwelithini's speech, which he said did not contain an attack on gays.
Sibiya said Mkhize felt it was important for him to meet Mushwana so he could explain what the king said and provide him with the copy of the speech and DVD.
The SA Human Rights Commission said on Monday it would write to Zwelithini to determine whether he had, in fact, made homophobic statements.
Sibiya said Mkhize was disappointed the commission had commented before it got the facts on the matter.
The Zulu Royal Household on Monday criticised the “reckless translation” of Zwelithini's speech.
“At no stage did His Majesty condemn gay relations or same sex relations,” his spokesman Prince Mbonisi Zulu said. - Sapa