The king, wearing traditional headdress, stands at a podium Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. File Picture: Shelley Kjonstad Independent Newspapers
Durban - Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has written to Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Mzwanele Nyhontso asking him for his urgent co-operation and to endorse the decision for a full forensic investigation into the Ingonyama Trust and its board.
The Ingonyama Trust administers about a third of the land, or almost three-million hectares of land in KwaZulu-Natal and it is administered by Nyhontso’s department.
The king, the sole trustee of the trust, earlier this year axed Inkosi Thanduyise Nkosinathi Mzimela as the chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) and said he would chair the board.
The king has repeatedly called for the dissolution of the current board, citing concerns mentioned in the media and in Parliament and has highlighted the entity’s failure to provide the required financial accountability.
Earlier this year, the king was informed about the concerns that Parliament had in respect to certain matters of governance, accountability and financial management which needed to be attended to.
In his letter to Nyhontso last month, the king said: “Given the ongoing breaches of accountability and governance standards, I am compelled to act with urgency to ensure the integrity and transparency of the Ingonyama Trust and the Ingonyama Trust Board.”
He said he was responsible for ensuring the proper administration of the trust’s assets and accountability in its financial and operational management.
“Honorable minister, the gravity of this situation cannot be overstated. The ongoing failure of the Ingonyama Trust and the Ingonyama Trust Board to meet their statutory obligations has not only undermined the reputation of the trust but also jeopardised its ability to serve the communities it is intended to benefit.
“Time is of the essence, and I urge your office to prioritise this matter and respond to my request at the earliest possible opportunity,” the king said.
He said that the trust had an obligation to account to Parliament while maintaining accounting records, annual financial statements and a register of fixed assets.
He said that despite numerous formal requests from his office, the Ingonyama Trust and the Ingonyama Trust Board have consistently failed to provide the financial statements and reports necessary for him to account to Nyhontso’s department and subsequently to Parliament, “in clear violation of the standards required by the financial regulations”.
“This failure directly impedes my ability to fulfil my fiduciary duties and has raised serious concerns about potential financial mismanagement and irregularities."
The king told Nyhontso that he intends to appoint a reputable independent forensic audit firm to conduct a thorough investigation into the financial affairs of the trust and the board over the last five years.
The audit will focus on reviewing financial transactions, statements, and governance practices and identify potential irregularities, misconduct, or non-compliance, the king said.
King Misuzulu also informed the board members that he had appointed Stephen Jabulani Rakwena of Van Rensburg Kruger Rakwena Attorneys to inspect records of the trust.
The king’s spokesperson and Traditional Prime Minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi yesterday said the functioning of the ITB continued to be a concern to the king.
“It is His Majesty’s wish that the Minister bring this matter to finality.”
Nyhontso’s office had not responded to a request for comment by the time of publication.