THE DEPARTMENT of Cooperative Governance and Indigenous Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal is continuing with the chiefs’ conference program that has removed the waste.
The Minister of the Department, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, presented another 35 vehicles that were transferred to the council of kings.
The beneficiaries are from Theku, Harry Gwala, Ugu, Ilembe and Pietermaritzburg regions.
Among the kings who benefited yesterday are the Deputy Prime Minister of Zulu who is also the MKP leader in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislative Assembly, King Phathisizwe Chiliza, King of Maqadini Mqoqi Ngcobo and King Macambini Mthokozisi Mathaba.
This was the second phase of the car supply program for the kings. In March, 30 kings benefited when the department launched the program.
In the first phase, the chiefs who are part of the executive council in the leadership of the house of indigenous leadership in the province and those who are chairmen and vice chairmen in the regions benefited.
The launch of the program caused a stir as some of the chiefs accused Buthelezi of choosing a cockroach.
The chiefs made allegations that there are chiefs and vice-chairmen in the regions who did not benefit, instead the chiefs who are not part of the leadership of the native house benefited.
The unhappy lords wrote to the chairman of the parliamentary committee in charge of the department’s operations, Dr Zweli Mkhize, asking for an investigation into the system followed by the department in identifying the benefiting lords.
Buthelezi said that they will continue with this program, and he promised that he will eventually benefit all the 300 kings of KwaZulu-Natal.
“This year alone, 65 chiefs will benefit from this program. Next year, the program will continue until all the chiefs here in KwaZulu-Natal benefit. I am happy to see all the chiefs we are cooperating with and showing interest in this program.”
Buthelezi said the car system will enable the chiefs to do their jobs easily.
“Kings play an important role in the preservation of culture and peace in the nations they rule. It is important that kings can do their job easily and with dignity.”