KZN Finance Dept won’t set aside additional funding for relocation of Zulu royal cultural events
King Misuzulu KaZwelithini wants to relocate the gatherings to the north of the province.
The commemoration of the historic Battle of Isandlwana in Nquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on 27 January 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal's Department of Finance said it would not set aside any additional funding for the relocation of Zulu royal cultural events.
King Misuzulu KaZwelithini wants to relocate the gatherings to the north of the province.
The Zulu monarch last weekend announced that the events, including the reed dance ceremony, which were hosted in Nongoma over the years, would now shift to the Emashobeni royal palace.
King Misuzulu announced the move of cultural events to his eMashobeni royal palace in uPhongolo.
This is despite government having spent millions to revamp the Enyokeni royal palace and building an amphitheatre with a number of showers for the maidens.
When asked about reasons for the move, royal family spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu told EWN that he would only comment on the relocation next week once an official statement had been issued.
However, KZN Treasury said it would not be taking money from its pocket due to financial constraints.
"It will be up to the Departments of Arts and Culture and the Office of the Premier to reprioritise their budgets to accommodate this move," said the spokesperson for Finance MEC Francois Rodgers, Nkosikhona Duma.
"MEC Rodgers continues with efforts to ensure that the AmaZulu royal household gets to a point of self-sustenance so that it may play a role in funding moves of a similar kind."
Meanwhile, the reed dance is expected to take place in September, with thousands of maidens across the country and neighbouring Eswatini set to attend.