Opinions divided over new palace for King Misuzulu

JUST days before KwaZulu-Natal celebrates Heritage Day under an IFP premier for the first time since 2003, cultural differences have come to the fore in the province.

This is after DA Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) Tim Brauteseth expressed the party’s reservations over the possible funding for a new palace for King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, questioning both the timing and the viability of such a project.

In a statement released this week, the MPL said such a move was an equivalent to a double-edged sword.

“On the one hand, given its location within the North Coast economic and tourism hub, it represents a unique opportunity for income generation. On the other, the project, which is yet another unfunded mandate for KZN, is set to place additional pressure on an already severely strained provincial economy,” said the MPL.

He added that KZN faced some pressing challenges at the moment, and argued that the government needed to channel its funds towards them.

“The unfortunate reality is that unfunded mandates ultimately take money away from critical service delivery mandates, areas such as local government, education, health and social development. KZN can ill-afford this. It is therefore critical that any wish-list items are properly planned for in terms of value for spend,” he stressed.

The DA MPL committed to continue monitoring developments around the building of a new palace – and the funding of Traditional Councils – in order to ensure financial accountability and transparency while also offering solutions in the best interests of KZN’s people.

Zulu historian Professor Jabulani Maphalala said it was important for the king to have his own palace and make his own mark as the new king. He noted how the current palaces, which belong to late King Goodwill kaBhekuzulu, were built during the 1960s and needed a facelift.

“When we were in the legislature in the mid- 2000s, we visited the palaces and realised that they were not in a great condition or the one befitting the stature of the king,” the historian said.

While acknowledging the importance of the new palace, Maphalala expressed pessimism of the chances of it being realised, noting that there was already some noise about the public coffers becoming empty.

“The first thing to take into account is who has the keys to the KZN coffers, and that is the DA, and it is highly unlikely for the request of such a budget item to be approved,” he said.

According to Maphalala, the DA statement in which the party expressed reservations over the public funding of a new palace should not come as a surprise.

Aside from being a historian, Maphalala served as an MPL under the IFP and National Democratic Convention.

A royal insider said Brauteseth’s statement was not surprising and was simply in line with the party’s principles.

“Although I have not had sight of it, the fact that it expresses reservations on the matter is pretty much consistent with the posture of the DA,” said the royal.

September 24 was initially observed and commemorated as the date on which King Shaka kaSenzangakhona died, but under the democratic dispensation it is reserved to celebrate the country’s rich heritage.