Land and Rural Development Minister wants probe into Ingonyama Trust dispute

CAPE TOWN - Land and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso wants a three-month investigation into a dispute at the Ingonyama Trust.

Nyhontso wants the probe to get to the bottom of the feud between the board and Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini after he suspended six members of the Ingonyama Trust board.

READ: Ingonyama Trust Board functioning in line with SA law, says Rural Development Dept

Nyhontso briefed Parliament’s Land and Rural Development Committee on Tuesday on the fallout.

Members of the committee on Tuesday questioned King Misuzulu’s decision to suspend the board members, saying this was the authority of the minister.

But Minister Nyhontso said they should avoid a media and public spat with the king and recommended an investigation into the shenanigans at the trust.

He said the allegations included accusations that the king wanted to run the trust in his own way and also use it to buy a farm.

The Ingonyama Trust oversees almost three million hectares of land on behalf of the Zulu monarch.

"Maybe just for three months and have a culturalist from KZN, people who understand Ingonyama Trust, to investigate all these accusations and come with recommendations to us after three months so that we take an informed decision because the law says we must have sufficient reasons to dissolve the board."

Nyhontso said the law clearly stipulated that there must be sufficient reasons to dissolve the board. He said he'd also written to King Misuzulu to request a meeting.