KZN Premier Thami Ntuli told the provincial parliament on Tuesday that he was discussing the issue of King Misuzulu's security and Ithala Bank with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image: File
KwaZulu-Natal government is holding a high-level discussion with President Cyril Ramaphosa about the national government’s decision to reduce King Misuzulu’s security details, Premier Thami Ntuli told the parliament during the State of the Province (Sopa) debate on Tuesday.
Ntuli was responding to concerns by King’s deputy prime minister Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza that the trimming of the guards from 12 to only five, has placed the King’s life in grave danger.
In his capacity as the leader of the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) in the provincial parliament, Chiliza said the issue of the safety of the King was of grave concern.
However, Ntuli informed Chiliza that the provision of security guards to the King was the responsibility of Ramaphosa’s office.
“The security of the King falls under the office of the president, and I can confirm that high level discussions are ongoing to address this critical issue.
“In fact, on the very same day of Sopa (February 28) I had important engagements about this subject,” Ntuli said.
He also said the provincial government was engaged in the process of restructuring the king’s office in collaboration with his majesty.
“This will involve thorough review of the role of the KwaZulu-Natal Royal Household within the office of his majesty,” he said.
According to media reports, the King had early last month written to Ramaphosa complaining about the reduction of his bodyguards, saying it was done without consulting him and that he only noticed it on his visit to Swaziland.
The King told Ramaphosa that this had put his life in danger “given the prevailing tensions within the royal house”.
The King was concerned about his safety because of the ongoing kingship dispute among the royal family members, including his brother Prince Simakade who claimed to be the rightful heir to the throne.
Chiliza said the safety of the traditional leaders, including the King, should be addressed speedily.
“Only a few amakhosi (tribal leaders) were selected to be provided with security guards.
“Even the King does not feel safe because of the reduction of his security without consulting him to get his views, which is very painful in the hearts of the Zulu nation, we therefore request that the King’s security should be at the level of the head of the [Zulu] kingdom,” he said.
“The issue of shutting down the Royal Household Department is a thorn in our hearts as the Zulu nation because those who did this wanted to reduce the king’s dignity,” said Chiliza.
Addressing the issue of the safety of amakhosi, Ntuli said the government has provided 15 of them with CCTV cameras while 16, who were identified as being at high risk, were provided with personal protection.
There were a total of more than 300 amakhosi in the province.
Meanwhile, Finance MEC Francois Rodgers had following the provincial cabinet resolution, approached the national government with an application for the guarantee of R2.4 billion single depositors’ money at Ithala Bank.
“As the government of provincial unity, we don’t just stand here and grandstand, we do things, we deliver, we all save Ithala and we put our money where our mouth is.
“There is a lot said here (in parliament) about Ithala, there is a lot of political grandstanding and a member here does not even know what is going on about Ithala,” said Rodgers.
He was reacting to another MKP MPL Sthembiso Magubane who lashed out at Sopa saying it lacked details about how the provincial government would protect Ithala Banks from being shut down by the Prudential Authority.
Provincial finance spokesperson Nkosikhona Duma said the R2.4 billion was equal to the depositors’ money stuck at Ithala.
“When this money is released (by the national treasurer) before the finalisation of the liquidation, this security guarantee would be deposited into another bank so that the depositors could withdraw it.
“When the money held by Ithala is released, the bank in which the security guarantee would be deposited will return the money to the government after deducting costs incurred,” said Duma.
Magubane was reacting to Ntuli who during Sopa assured people of the province that the bank was going nowhere and “it is here to stay” and commended Ramaphosa for assigning the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe allegations of impropriety and corruption, which led to the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) declaring the bank insolvent.
“You cannot make sweeping statements about saving Ithala in the same breath you speak about the SIU investigation, which is a duplication of a process that Ithala initiated on its own to recover the money from the Tech Mahindra tender, which is nothing new.
“Honorable premier, we expected you to give technical steps and a plan to ensure that Ithala is not liquidated because Ithala cannot be saved by the SIU investigation or by saying Ithala is not going anywhere.
“The support for the SIU investigation is not a technical matter that can save Ithala,” said Magubane.
He said when approaching Ramaphosa about the fate of the bank, he should insist that it should be saved because its mandate was to develop small business, especially those belonging to previously disadvantaged black communities.
bongani.hans@inl.co.za
