Members of Parliament’s Land Reform Committee have expressed disappointment over the postponement of their planned meeting with King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
The meeting was set to address the fallout between the king and the Ingonyama Trust board.
The situation between the Zulu monarch and the Ingonyama Trust Board is said to have reached a crisis point.
Late last year, the king suspended the board. A decision that the committee says is not within his authority.
Two weeks ago, the portfolio committee planned to meet with the king to get to the bottom of the problem. But Parliament’s presiding officers asked it to first wait for President Cyril Ramaphosa and Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso.
Committee Chairperson Albert Mncwango says, “They felt strongly that the president needed to be informed about their going to meet with the king because there are sensitivities that they feel needed to be taken care of.”
But MPs are not satisfied with this.
DA’s Bonginkosi Madikizela says. “I do think the process that the President has to take is a completely different process.”
MKP’s Andile Mngxitama says, “It would be important for us as the committee to take proactive steps by first understanding the source of the problem.”
ANC’s Mzoleli Mrara adds, “We’re attempting to listen to everybody involved in that programme and therefore for me, I support the fact that we still need this visit.”
“As you will be meeting with the house chair please convey our disappointment in him or them. As an institution because there was no reason for us whatsoever to subject the work of the PC to whatever programme of the President or even the minister,” explains EFF’s Sam Matiase.
UAT’s Lehlohonolo Mahlatsi stresses that “Our role is to be neutral and ensure that there is no conflict and that the minister and the king are smoking from the same pipe.”
FF+ Wynand Boshoff adds, “I would like to prioritise this visit because I think it’s of great political importance.”
All MPs agree the matter needs to be dealt with sensitively and that they have to tread with caution. But they first need to get to the bottom of why and how the situation reached this point.
They are planning to meet with the King in the next few weeks.
