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A torchbearer of hope, the king led from the front DR NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA, MINISTER OF COGTA
THE untimely passing of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini Ka Bhekuzulu, Isilo Samabandla has definitely left us poorer as a nation and people, looking at the important role he played in beholding a new democratic South Africa. His Majesty King Zwelithini was the longest-serving monarch of the Zulu Kingdom, with a reign spanning over five decades following his crowning in 1971, following the passing of his father in 1968. During his reign, he was an example of diligence and persistence and he placed the development of his people first and that rare generosity, thoughtfulness and embracing of diversity have shaped many lives. He was indeed a giant, upon which many stood tall and his name will be engraved forever in hearts of those who he touched in many ways than one. He was a true leader whose good deeds and untiring endeavours unified the Zulu nation which he led through difficult times, including under the brutal hand of apartheid. As a true custodian of the Zulu culture, he took pride in his identity and heritage. He was not the one to shy away from challenges and he took a stand to protect the lives of people, calling for an end to political killings and thus contributing to bringing peace among communities. To ensure a peaceful South Africa, he travelled the whole country and engaged with all people, irrespective of their race, colour, creed or political belief. During the height of political violence in the country, he became a mediator, peacemaker and a voice of reason that preached peace. The king played a critical role in bringing about the new democratic dispensation we enjoy today. He wanted nothing, but to see a South Africa at peace and with a thriving democracy. His Majesty profiled the developmental role that the institution of traditional leadership has to play to ensure development of their areas of jurisdiction and ultimately the whole country. He became a voice of the voiceless, especially the poorest of the poor and also spoke about the role of the institution of traditional leadership in a democratic South Africa. The king flew a flag of royal traditional leadership both in South Africa and the African continent. In an effort to consolidate unity and nation-building, His Majesty pioneered a gathering of African kingships in Durban to discuss the global perspective on indigenous leadership seeking, among others, to facilitate cohesion and make a call for a united front to fight social ills and negative effects of conflict in our continent. The king was always available to support government initiatives on projects related to the promotion and preservation of customs and traditions in South African communities. On two occasions, His Majesty supported the government initiative to develop protocol guidelines for
the institution of traditional leadership aimed at keeping with a need to create harmonised relations between the institution of traditional leadership and all its stakeholders and to ensure effective and efficient governance and social cohesion in the country as well as contributing to the transformation of the institution, placing it in a position where it can effectively partner and work with other stakeholders. Ahead of the launch of the District Development Model (DDM) in eThekwini, he supported the efforts of the government to ensure service delivery in municipalities that would ensure communities were developed. Through the DDM, the aim was to improve coherence and impact of government service delivery with focus of 44 districts and eight metros as development spaces that are used as centres of service delivery and economic development, including job creation. As a torchbearer of hope, the King led from the front in the fight against HIV/Aids and TB. He encouraged responsible behaviour, mobilising people to stop the spread of HIV/Aids. He took a courageous stance on HIV/Aids prevention challenging the international community to avail more funding against the pandemic and the South African government to provide medication to the people. Although the initiation of young men is not part of the Zulu culture, having been stopped by King Shaka, he encouraged young Zulu men to go for circumcision as one of the HIV/ Aids initiatives. In some instances, he spoke against the prevailing socio-economic challenges that continued to besiege all communities. Since the District Development Model was launched, Isilo wanted to know the role that was to be played by the traditional leaders in the KwaZulu-Natal. He often called me to brief him on the developments of this programme. In the last meeting, he held with me, he indicated his availability to support the department whenever there are challenges in implementing the programme. As part of demonstrating patriotism, in December 2020, His Majesty signed a pledge to fight the scourge of gender-based violence, child abuse and human trafficking as the country observed 16 Days of Activism. For his sterling work and in recognition of the social impact of his work in changing the lives of the people, the University of Zululand conferred him with an honorary doctorate. Our hearts are with his family, his children, the Zulu nation and South Africa as a whole. Phumula ngokuthula Mdlokombane kaNdaba! Hlanga Lomhlabathi! Ngangezwe lakhe! Silo samaBandla onke! Bhejane phum’esiqiwini kade bekuvalele! Bayede! Indeed, the shield of the Zulu Nation is smashed (Isihlangu sikaZulu siphukile).
