By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Zulu royal household has been allocated R67,316,000 for the 2022/23 financial year.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala tabled the budget vote at the provincial legislature on Thursday morning.
This is the first budget allocated since the recognition of King Misuzulu KaZwelithini as king of the Zulu nation.
Zikalala tabled the Office of the Premier’s (OTP) Budget Policy, and Treasury MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube outlined her plans to mobilise funds by assisting departments to spend their reprioritised budgets and respond to immediate needs in relation to the national disaster as a result of the floods.
Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni outlined the department’s service delivery programme.
The OTP is responsible for the transversal functioning of government by co-ordinating, monitoring and evaluating the provincial delivery programme. The OTP budget decreased from R802 million last year to R767.6m for the financial year 2022/2023.
Zikalala said King Misuzulu kaZwelithini continued to comfort and inspire the people and, given the magnitude of the disaster and the royal family losing no less than five family members, the king decided to postpone his coronation.
The royal budget of R67.3 million will be used for the hosting of annual traditional and cultural events to preserve and restore Zulu culture. It would also be used for heritage events such as the king’s prayer days, the Royal Reed Dance, the First Fruits ceremony (Umkhosi Woselwa), Amaganu ceremonies, Umkhosi weSivivane and Ukukhonza (Homage) by the Makhanya Clan.
In 2022/23, King Misuzulu will take part in various ceremonies and traditional functions including the opening of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.
Major maintenance projects being undertaken include the erection of new security fences and providing adequate security at all royal palaces, said Zikalala.
One of the most important projects is support to the Zulu Royal Household Trust.
“We will explore revenue generation strategies with a view to supporting greater financial independence in the near future. The trust is in the process of appointing a service provider to conduct a feasibility study to identify viable farming options. In line with its fund-raising and revenue-generation strategy, several quick-win projects are planned, including the acquisition of retail outlets,” Zikalala said.
He explained that through the trust, OTP would continue to provide for the queens’ well-being and other royal family expenses while supporting the drive towards financial self-sustainability.