The State of the Province address by Premier Senzo Mchunu was largely overshadowed by the scramble to calm down the furore over the xenophobic attacks in the province. The two events put the spotlight on our province for different reasons.
Curiously though, the two events can be viewed as two sides of the same coin if one considers King Zwelithini’s centrality in the life of the province.
After being harshly criticised for his utterances in Isipingo, it is, interestingly, his imbizo which managed to quell the strife that threatened to tarnish the good name of the country. Such is the unequalled power and appeal of His Majesty among his people.
Before the imbizo political leaders seemed indecisive and defensive, mostly playing second fiddle to the King.
That they also attended the imbizo speaks volumes about what could be accomplished through cooperation.
It is clear that the central role played by the Royal Household cannot be wished away from the fabric of the province.
Diluting, weakening or even attempting to destroy the influence the King enjoys, whether deliberately or unwittingly, is not in the best interest of the smooth running of the province.
Only the devolution of responsibilities between the Royal Household and the provincial government will ensure the realisation of the dream of making this the best province in the country.
It is only when all stakeholders are given space and capacity to improve the lives of the people that such a dream can be achieved.
Odd suggestion
Therefore, the suggestion by the Premier to be responsible for the budget of the Royal Household seems odd and it runs counter to that dream.
The size of the budget involved is perhaps immaterial at this stage. It is the principle that governs the relationship between the state and the Royal Household that should be clarified.
While the intentions of the Premier may not be as sinister as they seem at face value, the consequences may be dire.
A balance between the two entities should be maintained at all cost – and that should start with an honest engagement among those involved.
The fact that the ANC and the IFP have been drawn into the fray is a clear indication that Premier Mchunu’s suggestion has the potential to ignite a tug-of-war, with the King caught in the middle.
Royal households have played and still play a significant role in some political parties – that is a fact of history which cannot be denied.
However, if kings were seen to be non-partisan, unnecessary tensions and uncertainties could be averted.
Allowing any political party to control the King’s purse would cast a bad light on that impartiality.
The person of the King and the Royal Household should be accorded the respect they deserve.
In return, the King must ensure that his subjects receive the services enshrined in the Constitution to invalidate any suggestion that the money allocated to the Royal Household is just an abuse of taxpayers’ hard-earned cash.
