King Goodwill Zwelithini.
(Credit: INDEPENDENT MEDIA)
The Zulu royal household has splurged on
seven new, luxury Mercedes-Benz E-
Class sedans, costing an estimated R5
million, for King Goodwill Zwelithini’s six
queens.
The seventh vehicle is understood to have
been bought as a back-up vehicle.
The purchase comes at a time when
finances are tight.
Individual earners are having to pay 1
percent more in taxes, while the national
and provincial governments are cutting
back on expenses.
For some years there has been some
controversy about the way in which the
king’s finances have been handled.
Some observers say the new cars will
save money, while others say they are a
luxury.
In 2014/15, the Royal Household Trust
received R54.2m, but spent the money
before the financial year ended. It asked
for a R10 million bailout, and was granted
R5m in February.
For this financial year, which began on
April 1, the trust has been given R57.6m.
The Royal Household Trust and office of
the KwaZulu-Natal premier have
confirmed the purchases of the Mercedes-
Benzes.
Thamsanqa Ngwenya, head of
communications for the premier’s office,
said the vehicles were not top of the
range and had been acquired at a
discounted rate.
“The initial range required was a
Mercedes-Benz E350 and we purchased a
lower range.
“The reason for acquiring vehicles was
that the queens do not have their own
cars and have been utilising hired
vehicles.
“The acquisition of vehicles by the state
will reduce costs drastically, and this is in
keeping with government’s attempt to
reduce costs.”
Ngwenya said that with the province’s
dissolution of the Department of the Royal
Household last year, the office of the
premier had become responsible for the
household’s affairs.
It reprioritised the budget for 2014/15 to
acquire the vehicles for the queens.
“Such a step will reduce costs drastically
as the department will no longer use hired
vehicles,” said Ngwenya.
Judge Jerome Ngwenya, former chairman
of the trust, said the lease on the old fleet
of Mercedes-Benz cars had expired.
“The new replacement fleet has been
procured through the office of the premier.
I have limited details,” he said.
Ngwenya said the queens chose to travel
in Mercedes-Benzes for a number of
reasons.
“The status of the Zulu royal family,
safety, durability, comfort and reliability
are just part of the list,” he said.
Judge Ngwenya’s tenure as chairman of
the trust ended on Tuesday.
A new board of trustees has yet to be
appointed.
Judge Ngwenya said the Royal Household
Trust had run into financial difficulties
from its inception.
The 2014/15 financial year had been
particularly tough.
“One of the serious contributory factors
was the Department of the Royal
Household, which for five years withheld
monies due to the trust.
“The Trust has submitted a request for
close to R30m to the office of the premier,
which has now taken over the duties of
the department.”
Kevin Mileham, the DA’s national
spokesman on corporate governance and
traditional affairs, said he was “appalled”
by the purchase of the vehicles. He said
that in December he had called for:
- A comprehensive audit of the royal
household’s expenditure for the past
three financial years.
- Checks and balances to ensure
expenditure was in line with approved
budgets.
- A process to benchmark the Royal
Household’s budget against those of
other royal households supported by
money from the national and provincial
governments.
Mileham said he had yet to receive
answers.
“They asked for top-up funding despite
the millions of rand in (public money) they
had spent – and now they are buying new
luxury vehicles?
“This just doesn’t make sense.
“Why should we bear the brunt because
the king’s wives want to drive around in
fancy cars?”
The IFP and the ANC supported the
purchase.
Blessed Gwala, spokesman for the IFP,
said that the queens had “needs” and the
purchasing of new vehicles should not be
cause for an uproar.
“The Royal Household is entitled to a list
of things and vehicles happen to be on
this list.
“As long as there is no corruption
involved and they have purchased this
within their allocated budget, there
shouldn’t be a problem.”
ANC provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala
said he was well aware of the purchasing
of the vehicles.
He believed that the purchase was in fact
a “cost-cutting” measure for the Royal
Household.
“The Royal Household is known to hire
many vehicles, but this is costly.
“It makes more sense for the queens to
have their own reliable fleet of vehicles
instead of having to pay exorbitant fees to
hire luxury vehicles.
“I think that this was one of the main
reasons for the trust wanting to buy new
cars or to upgrade the existing cars.”
Sunday Independent



iolmobile.co.za/#!/article/seven-mercs-for-zulu-king-s-wives-1.1841038

Leopard king.

And blacks blame foreginers for their woes while this fat buffon parading as king siphons all their money to keep his numerous wives happy

No wonder he wants all foreigners out of the country. He knows his people are too daft.

I believe its high time Africans abolish all monarchs. I can't place a finger on any development imputed by their existence

a Mercedes e class sedan

Evil king
This man is happy and living a luxurious life with his family when other families are in pain because of what he caused.

When did owing a car started reducing the amount of cash spent when we all knw dt ur liability just begun.

Abi na commercial vehicle dem buy?

Nothing consign me with SA queens matter

lalaticlala,farano,naijaboiy,Seun,ishilove,
front page
do the needful

Typical African leader. Basking in afluence while d poor masses surfer. Worst off being that he instigated this Xenophobia madness bcuz of the poverty in d land, blaming foreigners for their poverty.

That's d same way Kano almajiris role on d floor chanting for their emir Sanusi while d young man keep making lot n lots of cashew from governments.

The money he spent buying those luxury cars can better the life of some south africans.

I pity the deluded mor0ns who follow him.

oloriburuku king..

They won't tell us how many more he bought for the concubines

hahn:
No wonder he wants all foreigners out of the country. He knows his people are too daft.

I believe its high time Africans abolish all monarchs. I can't place a finger on any development imputed by their existence

All the monarchs today are useless to everyone of us
They are nothing but political jobbers,governmental stooges and leeches eating into the purse of the government and sucking blood from the children.

lalasticlala

The king also cry!!!

babyosisi:



All the monarchs today are useless to everyone of us
They are nothing but political jobbers,governmental stooges and leeches eating into the purse of the government and sucking blood from the children.

I couldn't have said it better

South Africans are lazy, they hate to wake up early in the morning to go to work. I wonder what will become of them without foreigners. Yet they are so daft & they listened to this evil king who doesn't care about them.

Wetin concern me?
Let barbaric South Africans continue killing for him.

weed at old age.

Trut:
Nothing consign me with SA queens matter

Give me one giant sized toffee-flavd popcorn.

Ashleyma77:
lalaticlala,farano,naijaboiy,Seun,ishilove,
front page
do the needful

Doesnt deserve the hallowed places of the FP but the neglected, relegated bin of Trending starting from page 21

Wow what can I say about this.

You know. ......