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His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu – a symbol of reconciliation and peace ELA GANDHI
IN paying tribute to His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu, I want to firstly record our deepest condolences and solidarity with the Royal family, from the Gandhi Development Trust and Phoenix Settlement Trust and from the Gandhi family. It must be recognised that His Majesty’s life was filled with many challenges. Prior to being installed as King in 1971 after attaining the age of 23 and after his marriage to his first wife, Sibongile Winifred Dlamini or Ma Dlamini as she is referred to, he had to leave the province for a few years to seek shelter away from threats to his life. In the 50 years of his reign over KwaZulu-Natal he faced many challenges and criticisms. His status was often undermined. His life was often threatened. He has faced many criticisms and has had to struggle to gain recognition as king of the province and not just the Zulu nation. Amid these challenges his many attempts at reconciliation and peace in KZN have neither received wide publicity nor widespread support. It must be noted that while he has been recognised by many across the racial and ethnic divide for both his status and his work, he also faced bitter criticism by many who neither recognised his status nor respected his calls for reconciliation but when there were lapses he was harshly criticised. A monarchical system in the present world faces many challenges of legitimacy as so many other structures do. Like with religion a monarchical system is based on faith. An essential feature of reconciliation in our country and province is to try to understand the beliefs of each other and more particularly the traditional beliefs and customs of the majority of the people in our country. A challenge that His Majesty faced was the challenge of being accorded the recognition by all in a democratic South Africa and in KwaZulu-Natal. Recognition as a monarch and respect for the position does not mean that criticisms should not be levelled when a lapse is recognised. But such criticisms have to be tempered with respect for the position and balanced in its allegations of being the sole cause behind unrest, through a deeper investigation into causative factors. In fact, in some of the incidences deeper research revealed that while there might be misinterpretation of statements His majesty may have made, there were also deep-seated causes in the community for the unrest and violence. But be that as it may, my point simply is that we need to understand the traditional beliefs and accord respect for those beliefs in the same way that we expect our customs and beliefs to be recognised and accorded respect. From our own side as the
Gandhi Development Trust and the Phoenix Settlement Trust, we have observed His Majesty’s efforts towards reconciliation and peace in several gatherings where he has publicly called for peace and social cohesion. He has on numerous occasions recognised the importance of Mahatma Gandhi from the very early days of his assumption to the throne. He visited the Phoenix Settlement in October 1969 just after his nomination as king and before his installation. This was when he attended the centenary celebrations of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi and Kastur Gandhi. He has spoken at various public meetings of the significance of the scattering of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian Ocean on the shores of KwaZulu-Natal. He said that this created a bond between the two nations, Zulu and Indian. He also spoke of the values that Gandhiji brought to the province. He also addressed a number of other meetings where he spoke of social cohesion and the need to understand each other and live peacefully together. I quote here an extract from a speech he made on 27 February 2000 at a mass meeting at the Phoenix Settlement which was researched by my niece Professor Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie. “Phoenix Settlement was established as a symbol of resistance and was for decades a reminder of what could be achieved with courage and determination. The landmark must be recognised and valued as an important part of KwaZulu Natal’s heritage… and I call on all our people … to ensure that this settlement becomes a beacon of reconciliation and peace and a living monument to the man whose social and political ideals remain as relevant today as they did in 1904… “I extend to the Trust responsible for this remarkable project my congratulations and sincere appreciation for the work, which you have undertaken to restore to KwaZulu-Natal this monument of peace and unity… “It is my hope that Phoenix Settlement will stand and prosper in the century ahead and that it will come to symbolise our collective ability to emerge from a difficult past into a brighter and more enlightened future.” After 20 years, last year the Phoenix Settlement was given national heritage status. Application for World Heritage status is in the pipeline. We pay tribute to His Majesty King Zwelithini on this sad occasion of his passing. May his spirit rise and continue to bless this land. * Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, is a South African peace activist and was a Member of Parliament in South Africa from 1994 to 2004.
