Traditional Prime Minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi. Photo: X/Zululand District Municipality
Zulu King Miszulu ka Zwelithini has sacked traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi with immediate effect and said he will explain the reasons “in due course”.
The King also suspended members of the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB), including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, pending an investigation into alleged breaches of the Public Finance Management Act.
of mail & guardian rEarlier this month, we reported that pressure was mounting on Mr Miszulu to remove Mr Buthelezi over actions seen as undermining the stability of the KwaZulu-Natal coalition government.
In a Dec. 25 statement released on Friday, the king said the traditional role of prime minister is “unwavering service to the throne and nation, embodying the sacred bond between the monarchy and a people steeped in tradition.” “It's a thing,” he said. Wisdom and a commitment to the well-being and unity of the Zulu Kingdom. ”
“Today, I greet you all with a heavy heart as I announce the immediate resignation of Pastor Thulasizwe Dominic Buthelezi (MPL) from this esteemed position. We will continue to monitor Umkosi until the end of January 2025. “As such, the reasons for the withdrawal will be shared with traditional leaders and the people in due course.”
Mr Miszulu urged Zulus to unite behind the process to appoint a successor to Mr Buthelezi, a member of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) who is also the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs.
Sources previously told the M&G that state leaders from both the IFP and ANC feared Mr Buthelezi was using the post of Zulu premier in a “destructive” way to boost his profile. He said he was concerned.
Earlier this month, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, who is also IFP's provincial chairman, annulled Buthelezi's official opening of an Ulundi office in a move seen as imposing power on the MEC.
King Miszulu appointed Buthelezi as prime minister of the Zulu nation in January, despite opposition from members of the royal family, replacing former IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who served in the traditional role of successive kings and died in September 2023. Appointed.
Mr Buthelezi's sacking is also understood to have contributed to the breakdown in relations between the king and the ITB, of which he is a board member and chairman. MisuZulu had previously called for the board to be dissolved for refusing to enact his directives, including appointing a service provider to conduct an audit of the approximately 3 million hectares of land it manages on his behalf.
A separate statement from the Crown said the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and other directors involved had been given formal notice of suspension pending the outcome of the investigation. It said interim governance responsibilities will be overseen by MisuZulu himself and the remaining unaffected board members.
But board members said on Friday that the king does not have the power to suspend members of the Ingonyama Trust.
In a media statement, the suspension was announced in early December by the Crown notifying the appointment of attorney Stephen Jabulani Lakwena of Van Rensburg Krueger Lakwena to take on certain trustee duties. He said he received an “astonishing” letter from.
The board said Mr Miszour's letter also said the monarch had commissioned an independent forensic audit of the financials of Ingonyama Trust, the Ingonyama Trust Board and Ingonyama Holdings over the past five years. It is said that
They said a subsequent letter suspending the board members was distributed by Mr Lakwena this week, adding: He is not acting on behalf of Ingonyama Trust as he is not appointed by the Board or any person authorized by the Board. ”
*This story has been updated after the King also suspended members of the Ingonyama Trust Board.
