Land Reform portfolio committee to apologise to King Misuzulu for failing to meet over Ingonyama Trust
The committee was supposed to conduct an oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to try iron out differences between the king and the Ingonyama Trust board.
The commemoration of the historic Battle of Isandlwana in Nquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on 27 January 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - The Land Reform and Rural Development portfolio committee wants to apologise to King Misuzulu kaZwelithini for failing to meet with him to discuss the Ingonyama Trust board.
The committee was supposed to conduct an oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to try to iron out differences between the king and the Ingonyama Trust board.
This comes after King Misuzulu suspended several board members raising questions about his running of the Ingonyama Trust board, which oversees about 3 million hectares of land on behalf of the kingdom.
On Wednesday, the portfolio committee said that it was ready to visit King Misuzulu during its oversight in KZN last week.
But Parliament decided against this even after the king had confirmed the invite.
Now chairperson Albert Mncwango said the Zulu King deserves an apology as the committee tries to arrange another meeting.
“We will write a letter to the king and actually profusely apologise and I don’t know when we will meet him. Honourable members, you should not be surprised if we are asked to pay a beast for a fine for failing to honour our request to have an audience with the king.”
Members of the committee also expressed their displeasure after the postponement - saying the Ingonyama Trust matter is urgent.
Committee member Bonginkosi Madikizela said, “It’s unfortunate that the speaker took this decision (to postpone oversight) on the 11th hour.”
The committee expects to meet King Misuzulu in February after the State of the Nation Address (SONA).