culture and heritage alive
3 January 2009
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele was today Saturday, 3 January 2009
honoured by Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi, a descendant of Inkosi Bhambatha Zondi,
and the Zondi clan for his role in keeping heritage and culture alive in the
21st century and, more importantly, for honouring the heritage of Inkosi
Bhambatha Zondi who led the revolt against the 1906 Poll Tax Imposition. ANC
President Jacob Zuma was also honoured at the ceremony.
Cows and goats were slaughtered in a traditional ceremony held today 3
January 2009 which drew scores of people to the tribal village of eNgome,
outside Greytown, headed by Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi.
In 1906 the colonial government of Natal imposed a poll tax on all African
males in the province. The tax was some kind of remedy to the colonial
governmentâs own self impoverishment which had resulted from the Anglo-Boer War
of 1899 to 1902. The 1906 Poll Tax Uprisings was one of the most important
episodes in the history of the struggle for liberation in South Africa. It was
also the last armed resistance to be mounted by rural peasants, as the struggle
for liberation was to take a new turn with the formation of the ANC in 1912.
Inkosi Bhambatha kaMancinza Zondi emerged as the hero and personification of
the Uprisings. His prominence was quite remarkable because the resistance to
the Poll Tax had been very complex.
In 2006, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, under the leadership of
Premier Ndebele, commemorated the centenary of the poll tax uprisings in a year
long celebration that formed part of Premier Ndebeleâs initiatives to recognise
the past and use the heritage that it provides to normalise society and foster
social cohesion.
On 11 June 2006, hundreds of people, including several prominent leaders,
assembled in Greytown to pronounce that, through a transparent and democratic
process, they rescind the decision of the Governor of the Colony of Natal,
passed on 23 February 1906, to depose Inkosi Bhambatha Zondi. Inkosi Bhambatha
kaMancinza Zondi was posthumously re-instated as Inkosi of the amaZondi from 6
June 1890, uninterrupted until his death.
Premier Ndebele said that he was humbled by the honour bestowed upon him:
âIt is with humility and pride that we accept this honour by Inkosi Mbongeleni
Zondi and the Zondi clan who want to take the symbolism of the 2006
re-instatement of Inkosi Bhambatha Zondi forward and make it part of the
permanent living memory of our people. Therefore, our being here today is part
of the broader renewal of the heritage of KwaZulu-Natal.
âIn 1994, a new democratic era dawned on South Africa. Today we live in the
age of hope and respect for human dignity. We live in the age of hope through
peace. Most of what Inkosi Bhambatha lived for, fought for and died for, has
been achieved.
âSince 2004, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has embarked on several
heritage projects including the following:
* The commemoration of the inception of Mahatma Ghandiâs Satyagraha
(2006)
* Bringing home the remains of Moses Mabhida (2006)
* The commemoration of the death of Chief Albert Luthuli (40 years in
2007)
* The construction and unveiling of the grave of Princess Mkabayi (2007)
* Commemoration of Maqhamusela Khanyile
* Launch of the Family Tree Project
* Launch of a project to recognise the legacy of the Christian
missionaries
* The commemoration of Queen Nandi (2008)
* Commemoration of the Amakhosi of Embo-Mkhize (2008)
* Recognition of the 2008 Day of Reconciliation under the theme: âOne Province,
One People, and Different Cultures: Managing the past to achieve Universal
Reconciliation and Social Cohesion in KwaZulu-Natal; Today, Tomorrow,
Foreverâ.
We have identified choral music as a viable art form to record our history
and legacies.
Through the newly legislated KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Act we will be forming
district heritage forums to allow greater stakeholder participation in heritage
matters, local ownership will result in sustainable heritage management and
development.
âAs part of these commemorations and the research and documentation that
goes with it, we have adopted the theme that says through heritage we are,
âTelling the story of the Zulu people and the story of the people of
KwaZulu-Natal.â
âWe share a common belief that the recognition of our past by our collective
selves gives us an opportunity to manage it in a manner that promotes unity and
a common sense of identity. We are equally well aware that a past so well
managed is a springboard for the creation of a shared future where the South
African dream of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic society can be realised.
It is a dream we must all achieve.
âSo much more is yet to be done in order to bring all of us to a level where
we embrace our past with all its challenges and recognise its role in the
formulation of our individual, clan, local, provincial and national identities.
Such a multi-faceted identity, once cemented, will play a crucial role in
shaping how we interact with the nations of the world, especially during the
2010 FIFA World Cup, where nothing but our country is all that matters. The
multi-media centres which we are establishing in the eMakhosini Valley and the
Moses Mabhida Stadium will play a key role in promoting our heritage during
2010 and beyond,â said the Premier.
For more information, contact:
Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi
Cell: 072 779 9313
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
3 January 2009
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
