Durban - The ANC in KZN has issued a warning against people questioning the hunting of a lion by King Misuzulu KaZwelithini saying they will act against any moves to pit the Zulu nation against the society.
This comes after reports emerged that the king, as part of the Ukungena Esibayeni (entering the kraal) ritual over the weekend had killed a lion, which according to cultural experts forms part of the right of passage for the new king.
ANC KZN secretary Bheki Mtolo said they were satisfied that everything had been done by the book and there were no rules broken during the hunting process.
“For the record, there was no sale of the lion. The Zulu royal family had a permit and professional hunter including a district conservation officer – who were all in attendance throughout the process. We therefore reject any attempt to pit the Zulu royal family against society,” said Mtolo.
He also questioned the motive behind the media reporting on the lion killing, saying it amounted to an attempt to divide people across cultural lines, recalling that in December 2009 some attempts had been made to interdict Umkhosi Wokweshwama in Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The festival involves the killing of a bull with bare hands by warriors and has drawn criticism in some quarters, especially animal rights activists.
“However, Judge Nic van der Reyden dismissed the application – exposing and embarrassing the forces against the indigenous people. The judge said ‘prejudice of the Zulu nation is far greater than the applicants’.
“We salute judge Nic van de Reyden for being decisive. As the ANC we are calling upon all the people of KwaZulu-Natal across all racial and political lines to unite and build a prosperous province. The leadership of the ANC will work tirelessly to promote freedom of worship and religion,” Mtolo continued.
He noted that the country’s Constitution was designed to protect all cultures and customs practised by all people and was meant to protect the minority communities from any form of discrimination.
“Therefore, it would be reckless to discriminate against the indigenous people, who are in the majority. The ANC will work with the Zulu royal family and support it to showcase the diversity of our cultures while we simultaneously show our unity as one people and one nation,” Mtolo added.
The ANC KZN secretary said they were heartened by His Majesty’s speech in which he spoke like a father who loves his children equally and articulated his desire to work with leaders of society to ensure unity and socio-development of indigenous people.
