Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini was in a confrontational mood on Saturday as the Reed Dance marked its 30th anniversary.
The king used the event to voice a number of concerns, including the veil of secrecy around the accident that killed nine maidens and their two guardians last year.
He also used the event to justify the construction of a R300 million cultural village currently under way for the maidens to improve the event and make it more modern and accessible to all.
Zwelithini also said he was misunderstood about his mammoth land claim.
The accident that the king was talking about occurred on the R66 near Nkwalini between Melmoth and Eshowe. The victims were travelling in a bus on their way back from uMkhosi woMhlanga when it overturned, injuring scores of girls and killing some.
“I urge the government authorities to apprise me of what actually happened that day.
“What I know is only what I read about in the newspapers. I’m not satisfied. I just feel the government and those families should come together so that they can find closure. It’s not my intention to open old scars, but I just feel there should be closure. I spent my own money last Christmas buying groceries for these families,” said the king.
The Department of Arts and Culture arranged 175 buses to transport the girls to the weekend’s event. Various municipalities also assisted and have been advised to carry out thorough inspections of all the buses. All drivers will have their Public Driver’s Permits verified ahead of the festival.
Touching on the controversial mooted R300m project, Zwelithini said: “Zulus also deserve better. I will pray for those who resist you, I will speak to God. What have we done here in Zululand not to deserve the best of what South Africa can offer?”
The cultural development is expected to cater for the annual reed dance and first fruits festivals.
It would involve upgrading the existing pavilion and paved walkways, as well as sleeping areas and ablution facilities for the estimated 30 000 Zulu maidens who attend the reed dance each year.
The development and infrastructure according to the government was not only for the king, but the Zulu nation as a whole.
With regard to the blanket land claim to regain the entire province of KZN, the monarch said: “They say I have claimed the land, I have not even started with the process because people do not listen.”
He is expected to finalise his claim by March through the Ingonyama Trust.
Meanwhile about 40 000 barebreasted maidens in their colourful regalia braved the scorching sun as they took turns in laying the reeds before the watchful eyes of the king and Premier Senzo Mchunu. – IOL News
King Voices Concerns At Reed Dance added by on
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fat virgins with floppy breasts
can you mind your dressing plz.
it is their culture not to cover up unlike you Zambians who wear other peoples rejects “salaula” from head to toe and call it civilized!!
Awe notwa tnuntu epotuli. Nakumbwapo na kamo akamukashana akapolooka ubusaka. Awe aka nika virgin riginal
Probe Emily Sikazwe. She has turned Women for Change into a Cash Cow!
When Emily Sikazwe announced late last year that she had retired as Executive Director from Women for Change. She was pressured by Board members to leave the Organization because of Financial mismanagement and of the Organization. She became a threat or risk to the organization.
This is the status of the organization that she led;
We observed the organization has continued incurring huge deficits, ZMK 1,100,000 in 2013 and ZMK 1,140,120 in 2012. As at 31 December 2013 the Accumulated Funds deficit was ZMK 6,120,000 ! The current liabilities being more than the current assets by ZMK 4,300,000 ! This organization status casts doubt about the organization’s ability to continue operating.
We also observed as Board members that Pay As You Earn and National Pension Scheme deductions for the whole year, amounting to ZMK 432,000 and ZMK71,500 respectively have not been paid. Non-payment of Pay As You Earn deductions constitutes non- compliance with the Income Tax Act and Non-payment of pension scheme contributions attracts penalties.
Despite this financial malaise of Women for Change and having announced her retirement from the Organization, she is still enjoying full salary and benefits that even a Cabinet Minister does not enjoy. Her domestic servants are still on Women for Change pay roll, her vehicles still draw fuel from Women for Change Account to run personal errands, not mentioning her huge medical and telephone bills.
This is the Organization Emily has been leading. She claims she is still outgoing Executive Director despite handing over the office to someone else!
Right now over 10 former Women for Change staff whose gratuity has not been paid have gone to the Ministry of Labour for non-payment of gratuity running into millions of Kwacha ….not mentioning the millions that the current serving staff are owed in terms of gratuity. Emily has always ensured that the Finance Manager is someone that she can control so that she continues drawing funds even if her trips are fully sponsored. The Finance Manager for Women for Change has just resigned in frustration.
Emily Sikazwe is now a member of the commission on Legal and Justice Sector Reforms set up in March 2014. She is claiming that this commission is NOT paying her any allowances and hence she is drawing all her allowances (fuel and sitting) from Women for Change !
Is it true that the commissioners of Legal and Justice Sector Reforms are doing Voluntary work or she is double dipping despite her being alive to the fact that Women for Change is in very poor financial state?
This the person the government thinks has integrity and appointed to sit on the commission on Legal and Justice Sector Reforms Commission ! She is supposed to champion human rights (sic)!
When the government say they want to regulate NGO financial mismanagement through the NGO Act, this is a typical example of personalizing and plundering NGO resources meant for the poor.
ACC should probe her extravagant and greedy lifestyle at 25A Twin Palm Road, Kabulonga where she resides and all her handpicked Board members that are toothless because she has compromised them.
There are still committed Women for Change Staff that deserve better because they have sacrificed for the Organization. Emily is still benefiting from Women for Change through intimidation claiming she created the organization despite her retirement !
Stop this Gender Activists impersonator from looting a moribund Organization !
Disgusted Board Member