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…

The King of the Zulu nation wants total control of the Ingonyama Trust, which controls millions of hectares of tribal land across KwaZulu-Natal. As a result, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has appointed retired Judge Isaac Madondo and Advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi to lead the process to change the legislation that will see the devolving of the powers to appoint the Ingonyama Trust board from the Minister of Land Affairs and Rural Development and given to him. Currently, the King appoints a portion…

Parliament’s portfolio committee on land affairs and rural development was forced to discuss issues of the Ingonyama Trust with other people after Zulu King Misuzulu left the meeting early, citing ill-health. The committee, chaired by Member of Parliament (MP) Albert Mncwango from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) was in Nongoma on Monday to meet with the Zulu King at KwaKhangela royal palace.  The Ingonyama Trust, which administers vast hectares of land on behalf of Zulu people, is at the centre…

King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has pointed fingers at an unnamed political party, claiming that it is behind the Pietermaritzburg High Court bid to liquidate the historic Ithala Bank and the turmoil within Ingonyama Trust. He claimed some politicians wanted the bank closed to avoid repaying huge sums they owe in loans, just as the VBS Bank was looted and shut down.  However, the Zulu King did not name the political party or politicians concerned, sparking speculations in KwaZulu-Natal and beyond.  The…

Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has turned to his former traditional prime minister and tasked him with organising the upcoming imbizo to deliberate on the Ingonyama Trust and the pending liquidation of Ithala Bank.  The Zulu King requested Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi to organise the gathering, usually called during periods of crises faced by the Zulu nation, via a letter seen by African Times. The Ingonyama Trust administers vast hectares of land in parts of KwaZulu-Natal collectively owned by the Zulu people.…

Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has called an urgent imbizo of the Zulu nation to discuss issues of Ingonyama Trust and Ithala Bank, which are deemed a threat.  The imbizo would be held at Mashobeni Royal Palace in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, next week Friday (21 February 2025). In a message conveyed by the King’s former traditional prime minister, Reverend Thulasizwwe Buthelezi, he said the imbizo is called when the nation is facing threats and uses it to find solutions.  “His Majesty King…

King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has ended his almost two months of seclusion period to come and address Zulu regiments, thanking them for upholding the sacred ceremony of Ukweshwama (the first fruit). The ceremony is also used as an annual traditional Zulu prayer for a good year ahead.  It was held at the newly built Mshobeni palace in Nongoma (across the Nkunzana river from KwaKhangela palace, named after one of the old palaces of the legendary King Shaka, the founder of the…

The Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development is seeking to meet with Zulu King, Misuzulu KaZwelithini and other stakeholders to get to the bottom of the governance paralysis engulfing the Ingonyama Trust Board in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. The committee took this resolution on Tuesday (January 14) after an impromptu meeting to address the matter. “The Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development has, at its meeting this morning, resolved to request a meeting with King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini…

One of the six “suspended” members of the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) has resigned from the entity with immediate effect. Inkosi Mabhudu Israel Tembe, the traditional leader of the Tembe clan In UMhlabuyalingana, resigned from the board on Thursday. In a letter dated 9 January 2025 sent to Mzwanele Nyhontso, the Minister For Rural Development and Land Affairs and seen by African Times, Inkosi Tembe threw in the towel, citing personal reasons. “It is with a heavy heart that I…

King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has rejected Rural Development and Land Affairs Minister Mzwanele Nyhontsho’s assertion that he cannot suspend the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB). In a letter dated 7 January 2025, the Zulu monarch said he does have those powers and that Nyhontso is mistaken for claiming anything to the contrary.  The ITB is a South African public entity that oversees land owned by the Ingonyama Trust, established in 1994 to administer land traditionally owned by the Zulu monarchy.  The Ingonyama…