MEDIA STATEMENT: ZULU MONARCH CALLS FOR TITLE DEEDS FOR NGONYAMA TRUST LAND RESIDENTS
The monarch of the Zulu nation, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini, has today announced the commencement of a process during which people residing on Ingonyana Trust land would acquire title deeds to their land.
The Ingonyama Trust is an entity established in 1994 to be the custodian of the land that was previously administered by the erstwhile KwaZulu Government. It comprises 60% of the land in the KZN province.
His Majesty made the announcement today at the annual opening of the KZN Provincial House of Traditional Leaders at the Old Legislative Assembly building in Ulundi.
His Majesty was accompanied by the Premier of the province Willies Mchunu and MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube, both of whom traditionally officiate at this function.
In his address, His Majesty announced the commencement of a process in which the residents who live in areas under the trust would be given title deeds to their land. "This process will be exclusively for land that is utilised for residential purposes, and in line with the country’s constitution and all due procedures will be followed as the law spells them out,” said his Majesty.
The King also instructed all Amakhosi to work with government institutions to ensure that people residing in rural communities, are allocated physical addresses. “This is to ensure that residents are not deprived of any of their rights, to access government services, banking or even voting in elections” said his Majesty.
His Majesty also expressed his concern about the spate of violent protests plaguing certains parts of the province. “Communities have to ensure that private and public property is never destroyed in protests because it belongs to them. Churches, government buildings, roads, community halls and schools are all important structures that shape and build our communities. Violence is never an option when it comes to solving any dispute,” said his Majesty.
During his address to the House, the Premier thanked his Majesty for his leading role that he continues to occupy as the province grapples with a number of challenges, which include the drought. The drought is impacting negatively on the province's economy, with key agricultural sectors such as sugar cane farming suffering losses in production.
The Premier also reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to working with amakhosi across KZN as it strives to build better communities.
Statement issued by KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 7 June 2016
