Malaika Ditabo
How ironic is it that a practice introduced by colonialism remains deeply rooted in the lives of our traditional leaders today?
This practice includes the paying of stipends to royal South African kings whose loyalty to the state was bought.
And there are no plans on transforming the narrative.
Instead kings and traditional leaders are demanding more of taxpayers’ money.
I reached to Professor Musa Xulu to understand this phenomenom because not only is he an expert in this field but he is currently completing his fourth PhD – yes, you read that correctly, his fourth – on the sociology of traditional leadership.
“Kingship across South Africa was hijacked by the colonial process. And the payment of stipends was aimed at buying loyalty from the kings. That was done by the colonial government as well as the apartheid government,” he explained.
During our chat, he covered and patiently broke down the royals’ finances, history and challenges.
As it stands, they receive an annual salary of R1.3 million plus allowances for house upkeep and cars which is all covered by taxpayers’ money. But according to the kings, this is not enough, claiming that it is “unconstitutionally unfair” because one of their counterparts – the Zulu King – receives much more.
By more I mean an extra R80 million. This is in addition to the stipend and allowances.
Xulu explained that “the office of the [KwaZulu-Natal] premier has a budget of maybe over R80 million per annum, which is directed towards the upkeep of the Royal Zulu household.
This allowance covers everything the King and his family need.
From school uniforms to house appliances and even entertainment.
So, “just imagine a normal household; the government pays for all of that,” Xulu added.
The prospect of removing state salaries for kings is a far-fetched one, as the royals still play an important political role in democratic South Africa.
“These days politicians try to be friendly to Amakhosi [kings], traditional leaders, because politicians want votes. And enkosi [king] can call a big rural meeting, and everyone will attend, and a politician will be introduced to deliver his message,” detailed Xulu.
It is important to remember, the “kings serve the state and not the people”. In other words, their loyalties lie wherever their tummies are fed.
And to feed this big appetite, King Misuzulu proposed and quickly retracted his call for a R10 tax which would be applicable to all Zulus based in South Africa and living abroad.
Meaning should such a tax ever be applied, their king will receive over R50 million on a monthly basis.
But here’s the catch: no one actually knows where the money will go and what purpose it will serve.
It is evidently clear that our traditional leaders enjoy the remnants and fruits of colonialism. Others argue that they play an important leadership role in society and should be looked after by the state.
The paying of stipends is one of power, influence, and political security – therefore this interaction and transaction will continue to exist with kings, “who want to be given more than what they’re given already.”
It is truly difficult to understand how in a world where one is given millions merely for their status, they remain unfulfilled, craving for more, even if it’s at the expense of taxpayers.
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