King Misuzulu Bars “Suspended” Ingonyama Trust Board Members From Entering The Entity’s Offices

SIHLE MAVUSO|January 6, 2025

UNILATERAL ACT: Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has ordered “suspended” members of the Ingonyama Trust Board and senior staff not to enter the trust’s offices in Pietermaritzburg. Photo: KZN DSAC

The battle for control of Ingonyama Trust in KwaZulu-Natal is heating up after King Misuzulu KaZwelithini reasserted his authority and ordered the entity’s “suspended” board members not to enter the trust’s offices in Pietermaritzburg.

In a January 3 letter sent through his lawyers, Van Rensburg Kruger Rakwena Attorneys, the Zulu king instructed Advocate Linda Zama, Inkosi Mabhudu Tembe, Inkosi Phallang Molefe, Inkosi Sibonelo Mkhize, Dandy Matamela and Nomusa Zulu not to bother setting foot in the trust’s offices.

The purported suspensions of the seven board members fly in the face of the Minister of Rural Development and Land Affairs, Mzwanele Nyhontso’s warning that King Musuzulu does not have the power to suspend the board.

“We act herein on the mandate of the Chairperson of the Board and sole Trustee of the Ingonyama Trust, His Majesty King Misuzulu KaZwelithini. We hold the mandate to oversee the forensic audit and investigation into the affairs of the Board. Following a preliminary report submitted to His Majesty, the CEO and CFO and the board members listed below have been suspended pending the investigation, audit or any notification to the contrary,” reads the letter from the King Musizulu’s lawyers.

“These are: Advocate Linda Zama, Inkosi Mabhudu I. Tembe, Inkosi Phallang B. Molefe, Inkosi Sibonelo Mkhize, Mr. Dandy Matamela and Ms. Nomusa Zulu.

“This suspension presupposes that the suspended individuals are not to be granted access into the premises of the Board pending further notice. Note further that you are indemnified and held blameless for executing this instruction,” the letter added.

Pushing back against the purported suspension, the chief executive officer of the trust, Advocate Vela Mngwengwe told the staff that no one should carry the instruction from the King’s lawyers.

“No employee of Ingonyama Trust is authorised to engage with or carry out any instruction from any representative or agent of Van Rensburg Kruger Rakwena Attorneys,” Mngwengwe said in an internal memo sent to staff dated 6 January 2025.