funeral of the late Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi held at Engome near Greytown
31 January 2009
Programme Director, Mr. Sipho Sithole
President of the African National Congress, Mr Jacob Zuma
Reverend S W Nxumalo
Mr S M Zondi
Mr OT Zondi
Inkosi N Zondi
Reverend DM Mlangeni
Induna u Zuma
Other distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
We are assembled here today to lay to rest the late Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi,
a descendant of Inkosi Bhambatha Zondi, the hero of the 1906 Poll Tax
Uprisings. In 1906, the colonial government of Natal imposed a poll tax on all
African males in the province.
Inkosi Bhambatha Zondi was murdered by colonial forces at Mome Gorge in June
1906. Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi was murdered at Umlazi, exactly nine days ago, on
22 January. Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi was very instrumental in the partnership
that the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government established with the Zondi people
during the 2006 commemoration of the centenary of the 1906 Uprisings. The South
African Police Service (SAPS) are currently closing in on his murderers. The
last pieces of the gathering of evidence are being put together and arrests
will be made soon.
Crime and criminality is a scourge that continues to bedevil our
communities. Our people are living in fear of criminals. While most citizens
are working hard towards building a peaceful and prosperous KwaZulu- Natal,
criminals, who are a minority, are spending their time planning the destruction
of lives and property. However, we are confident that, together, we can turn
the tide against crime and we are, certainly, achieving some success in this
regard. Annual crime statistics for KwaZulu-Natal reflect that in the 2006/07
and 2007/08 financial years, the following trends emerged:
* murder decreased by 10,7 %
* attempted murder decreased by 6,6%
* rape decreased by 1,8%
* indecent assault increased by 11,6%
* common robbery decreased by 16, 4%.
One of the programmes envisaged for the, soon to be established, centre for
reconciliation and dialogue will be to promote the heritage of peace and help
young people to desist from violent and criminal activities. We would prefer to
have no crime at all. Government is working tirelessly to reduce crime. Besides
normal policing, the provincial government has also implemented the Volunteer
Social Crime Prevention Programme which enlists volunteers from the community
to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. These volunteers are working
together with the police to ensure that people are safer in their communities.
This is helping to close the gap between crime and the fear of crime.
To date, 1 200 volunteers have been identified and trained on basic first
aid and self-defence. In addition, officials from the Greater Manchester Police
(Scotland Yard) have trained volunteers to do local patrols. This was done in
consultation with the South African Police Service. The deployment took place
in priority areas. After various consultations, the Volunteer Social Crime
Prevention Programme was first piloted in selected municipal districts such as
Ugu, Uthukela, Amajuba, Ethekwini, Umgungundlovu and Umkhanyakude. The
remaining districts will soon have the programme as well. We will continue to
declare war on crime.
Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi passed away at a time when government programmes, to
improve the traditional leadership system in the province, are beginning to
bear fruit. The National Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act,
2003 (Act No. 41 of 2003) and
the KwaZulu-Natal Traditional Leadership and Governance Act, 2005 (Act No.05 of
2005) ushered a new phase in the administration of traditional institutions. In
2006, Government established the Provincial House of Traditional Leadership and
11 local houses of Traditional Leadership.
The process of transformation in traditional leadership structures has
resulted in, over 90%, of traditional authorities being transformed into
Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, 2003 (Act No. 41 of
2003) and the KwaZulu-Natal Traditional Leadership and Governance Act,
2005 (Act No. 5 of 2005). For the first time, women and youth are legally
expected to participate in matters regarding traditional institutions.
In 2007, the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs approved
a stipend system for Izinduna who are members of traditional councils. Izinduna
will be able to have financial resources that will help them to fully and
effectively execute the tasks of traditional councils. Furthermore, in 2008,
all "out of pocket" expenses for traditional council members were reimbursed by
the department. Again, in 2008, the travelling expenses for all Amakhosi were
reviewed to be in line with the Department of Transport tariffs.
In 2008, the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs employed
Managers for all eleven Local Houses of Traditional Leadership. To promote
partnerships and synergy between traditional institutions and municipal
structures, the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs held
joint Exco meetings between municipal and traditional leadership structures.
Consequently, Joint Co-ordinating Committees were established between local
municipalities and traditional councils.
In 1994, a new democratic era dawned on South Africa. Today we live in he
age of hope and respect for human dignity. We live in the age of hope through
peace, democracy and development. Most of what Inkosi Bhambatha lived for,
fought for and died for has been achieved. Most of what Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi
lived for and believed in is being achieved everyday.
On 11 June 2006 we assembled, at eNgome, to pronounce that we rescind the
decision of the Governor of the colony of Natal, passed on 23 February 1906, to
depose Inkosi Bhambatha Zondi. And so Inkosi Bhambatha Zondi was, posthumously,
re-instated by this caring government.
The success of the 2006 commemoration can be attributed to Inkosi Mbongeleni
Zondi's progressive outlook towards life. He was a modernist who valued
traditions and the change of traditions to suit modern times. He presented many
proposals to government, all aimed at bringing a better life to the people of
eNgome. Fighting for the development and freedom from poverty of his people was
a tradition which he inherited from his great-grandfather, Inkosi Bhambatha
Zondi. Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi was the ultimate model of the kind of
partnerships an Inkosi should, nowadays, establish in order to improve the lot
of his people.
On 3 January, 2009, the President of the ANC, Mr Jacob Zuma, and I were here
at eNgome at the invitation of the late Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi and the Zondi
clan, who hosted a ceremony in honour of the ANC President and I. Inkosi
Mbongeleni Zondi always worked towards strengthening ties between his community
and government. We did not know that this event, on 3 January 2009, would be
our final encounter with the living Inkosi Zondi. In honour of this development
activist, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has taken a decision to name
the new Development Centre at eNgome, which is scheduled to be officially
opened next month, the Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi Development Centre.
On behalf of the Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal, I wish to extend
our deepest condolences to the Zondi clan, the family, relatives, friends and
the community of Msinga, particularly the people of eNgome. Indeed, we have
lost a transformational leader, an Inkosi who put his people first, and saw
government as a strategic partner in the development of his area. We say
farewell to this friend of peace, democracy and development.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
31 January 2009
Source: SAPA
