unveiling of King Dinizulu's statue at Umvoti
16 August 2007
Protocol
Programme Directors,
His Majesty the King,
Leader of KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders,
MECs present,
District Mayor of Umzinyathi,
Mayor of Umvoti,
Councillors,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
The KwaZulu-Natal government has since its tenure of office prioritised our
heritage in this province as one of the foremost areas of intervention. We have
done this to, among other things, correct the distortions of the past and
highlight the legacies left behind by great heroes and heroines, including the
custodians of our cultural heritage such as past kings.
Today we are gathered here to continue traversing this noble cause by
recognising the legacy of King Dinizulu ka Cetshwayo through the unveiling of
this statue.
The sentencing
It was in this town in 1908 that King Dinizulu was brought before the
colonial courts and sentenced to imprisonment. In 2008, we shall be
commemorating 100 years since that sentencing took place in this town of
Umgungundlovana.
Local Heritage Forums
Our provincial government has called for the establishment of Local Heritage
Forums throughout the province. These forums are intended to identify and
highlight important heritage projects that seek not only to honour our
historical legacies now but also project, right into the future, the value in
holding in high esteem our history and heritage.
At the same we are encouraging and facilitating popular participation in
local heritage renewal. To this end we have started with the process of forming
Local Heritage Forums.
Local Heritage Forums, which are voluntary community-based organisations,
will ensure that heritage development beneficiation filters down to the lowest
and grassroots levels of our society.
The unveiling of this statue is therefore very important in that context. As
provincial government, we applaud the Umvoti Municipality for responding
positively to our call. We call upon other districts and municipalities,
outside of Umgungundlovana, to follow this good example and establish Local
Heritage Forums that will concretise our drive to highlighting our
heritage.
Amafa Heritage Council
We are reconfiguring Amafa Heritage Council, so that its objects, structure
and thrust reflect these aspirations. The development of a Multi-Media Centre
at the eMakhosini valley will see our regional especially Zulu history dating
back centuries, being put on interactive displays using modern technology.
We acknowledge the diverse nature of the heritage discourse, and that it
involves cultural heritage like dance, music, theatre the arts, history, past
heroes, architecture, literature and the totality of man and human inventions
on earth. Heritage also involves natural heritage which includes our natural
heritage sites, rivers and landscapes like the Drakensberg Mountain Range,
Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park and adjacent rivers and vegetation.
Maqhamusela Khanyile
On 11 March 2007 government and Evangelical Lutheran Church stakeholders
assembled at KwaMondi near Eshowe to commemorate 130 years since the death of
one of the earliest Christian Zulu martyrs, Maqhamsela Khanyile. His story is a
story of almost stoic determination to stay the course even when faced by
death.
Bhambatha
It is within the same context that we recognised the legacy of Inkosi
Bhambatha Ka Mancinza during 2006.
Luthuli
It is also within that context that we are this year honouring the legacy of
Inkosi Albert Luthuli, 40 years after his mysterious death.
On 21 July 2007 more than 26 Choirs from all over the province of
KwaZulu-Natal met at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre
in Durban, to commemorate this hero through newly composed choral music.
Luthuli himself was a lover of choral music and a Choirmaster at Adams
College.
It will be within the same context that next year in 2008, we shall be
commemorating the legacy of Inkosi u Dinizulu some 100 years after he was
sentenced in this very town in 1908.
Unveiling King Dinizulu's Statue
As provincial government and as part of the process of honouring King
Dinizulu, we shall be unveiling a bigger statue at the same venue where that of
Louis Botha also stands in Durban.
We think that it is significant that the statues of both King Dinizulu and
General Louis Botha stand side by side. We shall remember that Louis Botha
facilitated the release of King Dinizulu from prison.
The Durban Metro will for its part, re-name a street after King Dinizulu in
his honour.
King Cyprian Commemoration
But next year we shall not only be commemorating the legacy of King
Dinizulu. We shall also be commemorating 40 years of the death of King Cyprian,
the father of the reigning King, Isilo Samabandla. Hlanga Lomhlabathi.
These are the heroes in this province's legacy, who made a difference in the
history of our people and left a legacy to be revered by posterity. As
government and as a people of this great province, we are duty-bound to honour
them in some way.
King Shaka
Also in 2008, we shall be commemorating 170 years after the death of one of
our great Kings, Ilembe eleqa amanyamalembe ngokukhalipha, Inkosi u Shaka ka
Senzangakhona.
Ghandi
Government also commemorated the birth of Mahatma Ghandi's Satyagraha.
Ghandi, a lawyer by training had lived and worked in South Africa during the
Anglo-Boer South African War. His experiences during this war made him to
realise the devastating effects of war. He started Satyagraha as a way to make
peace the object of life, a way of life.
Moses Mabhida
In the same year government repatriated the remains of struggle stalwart
Moses Mabhida from his temporary grave in Mozambique, to his final resting
place in Slangspruit, Pietermaritzburg.
Impi yaseNcome
In 2008, we shall be commemorating 180 years after the 1838 Impi yaseNcome,
where a large number of our fore-bearers sacrificed with their blood to defend
the motherland from invaders. In 1998 the democratic government erected an
inclusive monument reflective of the spirit of reconciliation which dominates
South Africa's public life in the post-apartheid era. Today the Impi YaseNcome
Museum stands as an example of what can be done in developing heritage in a
non-racist, non-sexist inclusive manner.
Rebuilding uMgungundlovu
As here in Umgungundlovana, all these heritage events will be observed
alongside the provincial government's unfolding programme to rebuild
Umgungundlovu ondonga zibomvu - once the royal seat of one of our great kings,
Inkosi u Dingane. We shall be spending millions of rand in this project to
ensure that Umgungundlovu, which is now the capital of this province, is
restored and given its rightful place in our history.
So this government has an unfolding heritage programme that is not dictated
to by expediency, but by a real commitment to honouring the unique legacy that
our heroes and heroines left behind them.
African Renaissance
The government of the province of KwaZulu-Natal has, since 2004 embarked on
the project to renew the heritage of this Province. The Heritage Renewal
programme is also informed by the African Renaissance. We are, therefore,
taking heritage research seriously.
The retrieval of the Timbuktu manuscripts , the declaration of our natural
heritage sites like Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park and the Drakensberg
Ukhahlamba Mountain Range as World Heritage Sites are all indicators of the
direction in which the country's and the Province's approach to Heritage
renewal is going.
Ingcucge
We have also commemorated the role played by Izintombi ZeNgcugce in
determining their right to choose their lovers, and to make choices in
life.
As the provincial government we will continue to acknowledge the heroes in
our history, particularly during the month in which we also honour our women.
We shall continue to chart the path of an all-inclusive programme of
heritage.
Masisukume Sakhe i KwaZulu-Natal!
I thank you
Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
16 August 2007
