Budget blow for royal household

The Royal Household Trust has not been spared from the effects of the country’s sluggish economy and budget cuts after it was allocated R77.5 million for its operations this financial year.

The allocation is a decrease from the R79m that had been allocated to it in the previous financial year.

Premier Thami Ntuli presented the budget while tabling it for the Office of the Premier on Tuesday.

The premier’s office is a co-ordinating department with a total budget of R784.1m for the 2024/25 financial year.

Several political parties raised their concerns about the budget for the Royal Household Trust and the general treatment of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and failure to map out a more significant role that the king can play in the affairs of the province beyond just a ceremonial role.

The parties said that the king has a much more significant role to play in society, especially in communities working with other traditional leaders.

Tabling his budget, Ntuli said the royal household has been allocated R77.5m.

“The Office of the Premier is also responsible for the Royal Household Trust. In this regard, the Office of the Premier provides support to the Royal Household Trust.

“His Majesty, the King’s activities include, among other things, hosting of annual traditional and cultural events to preserve and restore the Zulu culture, as well as the hosting and celebration of heritage events such as the king’s coronation.

“The appointment of the new board of trustees is expected to be finalised in this financial year,” he said.

Several parties across the political spectrum were displeased about how the affairs of the royal house are handled.

uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza called for the royal house’s budget to be “looked at” carefully. He said it was embarrassing to the nation that King Misuzulu was forced to cancel an important trip to Malawi because of budget cuts.

The Mercury understands that the king was supposed to travel to a cultural event in Malawi, but there was a concern about the number of Amabutho that would be travelling with him and the cost.

Chiliza, who is also the deputy prime minister of the Zulu nation, said the role of the king in the province cannot be just a ceremonial role.

He said the province should also discuss the issue (importance and role) of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Zulu nation, adding that the matter should be discussed and finalised to prevent any future problems. He said the office should be given the respect it deserves.

The IFP’s Blessed Gwala said it was important to address the issue of the king, adding that a few years ago the role of the king was clarified in the provincial constitution, but the matter was taken to the Constitutional Court and was challenged, relegating it to the “dustbin”.

The DA’s Martin Meyer, who is also the MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, thanked the KZN premier for making it clear that he takes the financial challenges facing this government very seriously.

“Finding ways to cut costs is critical and every cent counts in our current fiscal climate and there are numerous ways in which the legislature can save money by implementing minor changes. The premier is also in a position to influence the way the royal household contributes to our province.

“His Majesty the King made it very clear – during his first meeting with KZN’s new Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) cabinet and in his recent address to the legislature – that he wants to reform the use of Ingonyama Trust land and expand on its agricultural and tourism potential along with that of the royal household,” he said.

Meyer said the DA calls on the premier to support the king in the vital project of enhancing KZN’s economy through the work of the royal household, which will ultimately benefit all the people of KZN.

“The Ingonyama Trust’s agricultural potential is huge. By using various possible models, such as the Botswana beef corporation model, the government can enhance food security in KZN, improve the economic positions of small-scale farmers and greatly contribute to the overall economic development of our province,” he said.

Ntuli acknowledged that the Royal House, including the matter of the Office of the Zulu Traditional Prime Minister, had to be attended to urgently.

Speaking about the king’s cancelled trip to Malawi, Ntuli said the Premier’s Office had signed off on the trip after the costs had been amended. “Initially, it would have cost R3m, but I asked for those to be revised and I signed off on this. I haven't received a report that the king’s trip was cancelled,” he said.

The Mercury