The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) in KwaZulu-Natal has condemned the disruption of an Ingonyama Trust Board investment summit in Durban, saying the conduct of people purporting to be Zulu amabutho was an unacceptable attack on the dignity of traditional leaders.
The Rural Economy Development and Investment Indaba was held at the Durban International Convention Centre last week, where the Ingonyama Trust Board brought together traditional leaders, government representatives and potential investors to discuss economic opportunities on Trust-held land.
The meeting was disrupted when members of Zulu regiments entered the venue and protested over what they claimed were attempts to take control of land belonging to traditional communities.
According to reports, the protesters accused business interests of attempting to take tribal land in the name of investment. The protest was eventually stopped after the regiments encountered traditional leaders attending the event.
CONTRALESA KZN provincial chairperson Inkosi Thulasizwe. Ngcobo said the behaviour was “severely out of line” and had no place in Zulu culture.
“We strongly condemn the conduct of those individuals purporting to be Amabutho who chose to disrespect AmaKhosi,” CONTRALESA said.
The organisation also rejected claims that traditional leaders who attended the summit were acting against AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
The organisation said traditional leaders had a legitimate right to attend programmes of the Ingonyama Trust Board because of their role in traditional communities and their responsibilities relating to culture, land and people.
The organisation disputed suggestions that amakhosi could only attend Ingonyama Trust events with the permission of the King.
It further dismissed as false claims that traditional leaders at the summit were involved in selling land or issuing title deeds.
The controversy comes amid a broader and longstanding struggle over the governance of the Ingonyama Trust, which administers about 2.8 million hectares of land in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Trust was established in 1994 and the Ingonyama, the Zulu King, remains its sole trustee. The Ingonyama Trust Board was created through a 1997 amendment to administer the Trust land and its affairs.
The Trust’s own information states that its land is held for the material benefit and welfare of the tribes, communities and residents living on it. The board works with traditional leaders in administering the land.
The latest confrontation comes against the backdrop of intense disagreements over the future of the Trust.
In March, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso dissolved the board after a number of resignations left it with four members. The minister argued that the situation had created an unsustainable governance position.
However, the Pietermaritzburg High Court subsequently overturned the decision, ruling that the minister had acted unlawfully and outside his powers. The ruling left the Ingonyama Trust Board in office.
The investment summit itself was aimed at unlocking economic opportunities on Trust-held land. According to the board’s programme, discussions included investment opportunities, identified land parcels for retail, fuel, education and housing, the legal and tenure framework, and the process for investors to register their interest.
CONTRALESA said the disruption was particularly concerning because traditional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal have themselves been targeted and killed.
It questioned the security arrangements at the Durban ICC, saying individuals should not have been allowed into the venue without proper searching.
The organisation also raised concerns about the police, claiming authorities had been warned about the intended disruption after individuals allegedly made posts on social media about what they planned to do.
“These institutions subjected AmaKhosi to such compromised security as witnessed,” the organisation said.
It warned that it was now concerned about the safety of traditional leaders at future events unless the Ingonyama Trust Board and Durban ICC could provide adequate security guarantees.
The organisation also appealed to people advising King Misuzulu to discourage conduct that could deepen divisions among traditional leaders and the Zulu nation.
CONTRALESA said it remained firmly behind the King, while warning that disputes around the Trust should not be allowed to undermine the institution of traditional leadership.
“The conduct is extremely dangerous and has the potential to divide the Zulu nation that was united by King Shaka kaSenzangakhona,” it said.
The organisation called for respect between the monarchy, traditional leaders and other stakeholders involved in the administration and development of Ingonyama Trust land.
