In what appears to be an act of usurping the powers of the Zulu King, the Ingonyama Trust Board has partitioned the chiefdom of the Cele clan in Umzumbe in southern KwaZulu-Natal and given it to the Radebe clan, which is fighting for kingship in the province.

The decision of the Ingonyama Trust Board, which oversees tribal land in KwaZulu-Natal, is contained in a letter that was obtained by the African Times, which is dated 27 February 2026.

In the letter, the board told Inkosi Bethabuya Cele that the move to take away the prime coastal land is temporary, and this was done behind King Misuzulu KaZwelithini’s back.

“The Ingonyama Trust Board hereby formally notifies your Traditional Authority that the Board has resolved, in terms of section 2A(6) of the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act, to issue an interim delegation of land administration powers to the AmaHlubi Traditional Authority under iNkosi Bhekamadoda Radebe.

“This delegation arises from a Board resolution dated 29 January 2026, following consideration of a formal submission concerning the Ingonyama Trust Land within the Hlubi occupied area,” the board said in the letter.

It added that it is meant to stem the allocation of land to settlers in an unlawful manner.

“The purpose of this notification is to ensure transparency, prevent unintended jurisdictional misunderstanding, and promote orderly governance. Should your Traditional Authority have any written representations, objections, or boundary concerns specifically relating to the identified Ingonyama Trust parcels, you are requested to submit such representations to the Secretariat within fourteen (14) days of receipt of this letter,” further reads the letter.

The spokesperson of the ITB said this does not constitute a transfer of ownership of land, nor does it take land from one clan or traditional authority and give it to another.

“Legal ownership of the land remains vested in the Ingonyama Trust, with the Board acting as the Accounting Authority in terms of section 2A(2) of the Act.

“The purpose of the interim delegation is to address the current land governance vacuum over the identified Ingonyama Trust land, prevent unlawful occupation and land invasions; and ensure orderly land administration pending the formal jurisdictional regularisation and gazetting processes through the relevant government structures.

“The Board has also formally communicated with affected traditional leadership structures to ensure transparency and provide an opportunity for any representations or concerns to be submitted,” he said.