Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuZulu, is urging amaZulu to avoid funerals of people who are not their relatives as the country continues to battle a surge in COVID-19 infections.
The king has sent condolences to families who have lost their loved ones to the pandemic.
Urging his subjects to take the disease seriously, king Zwelithini urged the public to attend funerals that they cannot avoid.
He says they shouldn’t worry too much about some of the cutural rituals they are accustomed to as those can still be fulfilled once the battle against COVID-19 has been won.
“It would be a tragedy for people to place traditions before their own safety,” the king said.
Quoting a Scripture on 2 Chronicles, the king also urged South Africa to seek God’s forgiveness so that he can bring healing on the land.
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa also urged South Africans to avoid funerals, saying attending them has become a death trap.
The President says the events have become super-spreaders of the disease, which has killed 35 852 South Africans.
In KwaZulu-Natal alone, 5 964 people have succumbed to the virus and 269 632 others are infected.
The king (also affectionately referred to as the beast) says the government should respect voters and the officials should stop being so clumsy. He says if not dealt with properly, graft could destabilise the county and collapse the economy.
“We could end up like other African countries. A nation that does not learn from the mistakes of others, especially with regards to proximity between its leaders and people. It is bound to fall into the same pit,” he says.
King Zwelithini also blasted South Africans who torch and destroy property during protests, urging them to respect the country’s leaders.
On the issue of gender-based violence – he called on the Zulu nation to introspect as it is often regarded as a violent community. He called on men to change their ways. “Being a man comes with responsibilities. Abusing women and children disqualifies one from being called a man,” he warned.
Police Minister Bheki Cele led the police’s delegation to the Royal Palace.
The deployment is part of the government’s bid to strengthen capacity to address criminality in rural areas.
#RoyalReservePolice service is the first of its kind to be implemented in SA and piloted in KZN. The service will later be rolled out in other communities led by Traditional Leaders across the country. https://t.co/Ag7SOrmi5Q
Cele has emphasised the need to keep all South Africans safe. – Report by the Maputaland FM news team
In a bid to strengthen capacity to address crime in rural and traditionally-led communities, Police Minister, General Bheki Cele together with His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini launch the Royal Reserve Police @SAPoliceService [WATCH HERE] 👉🏿https://t.co/rhXsdlq9Dy
