Durban - King Goodwill Zwelithini and President Cyril Ramaphosa are to soon meet to discuss the burning issue of Ingonyama Trust Board, whose proposed review or scrapping has caused a rift between the two leaders, said Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza.
Chiliza, who is chairperson of KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders, told Independent Media on Wednesday that the date for the meeting had not yet been finalised.
“There is a pending meeting between his majesty and the President,” he said.
He said the king and Ramaphosa had met a few weeks ago, after the latter requested the meeting “apparently in preparation for the next meeting”.
“We believe that they agreed on suitable dates (for the next meeting). We believe it (next meeting) would not be delayed because there was a commitment from the President’s side,” said Chiliza.
He maintained that the king had not briefed the traditional leadership on what was discussed in a meeting.
“But we have been assured that, very soon, the President and his team will come down to meet the king,” he said.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe on Wednesday told eNCA the issue of Ingonyama would only be dealt with after the finalisation of amending section 25 of the constitution.
He said the country was currently seized with the expropriation bill which “is going back for public consideration”.