Law allows King Misuzulu to chair Ingonyama Trust Board, confirms Agriculture Dept
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is the first King to chair the Ingonyama Trust Board following recent changes made to the board.
The commemoration of the historic Battle of Isandlwana in Nquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on 27 January 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
DURBAN - The Agriculture Department has clarified that by law, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is allowed to chair the Ingonyama Trust board.
This follows yet another change of leadership in the board that oversees 3 million hectares of land in KwaZulu-Natal.
This week, the Zulu monarch fired Chief Thanduyise Mzimela from the post appointing himself as the chairperson.
The Zulu monarch is also the sole trustee of the board.
King Misuzulu is the first King to chair the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) following recent changes made to the board.
ALSO READ: King Misuzulu fires Ingonyama Trust Board chair, Thanduyise Mzimela
While the move has raised eyebrows, the law allows the controversial decision by the Zulu monarch.
“The law stipulates that he as the sole trustee can chair or nominate a nominee. In this case, he decided the chair the board himself," said Department of Agriculture Spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo.
Ngcobo added that like previous chairpersons the Zulu monarch will have to account to Parliament.
“The King as chair will have to appear before Parliament to account on the operations of Ingonyama Trust... previous chairs have done so - they've gone to Parliament and accounted in terms of what the board has been doing as stipulated on the ITB Act.”
The board collects millions of rand through the leasing of land in parts of the province.