official opening of the Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi development centre held at
Engome near Greytown
14 February 2009
On 31 January 2009, we were assembled here at eNgome to lay to rest the late
Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi, the great grand-son of Inkosi Bhambatha Zondi the hero
of the 1906 poll tax uprisings.
Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi was callously murdered at Umlazi on 22 January.
Inkosi 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, led by his esteemed
ancestor, Inkosi uBhambatha ka Mancinza.
I am pleased to announce that the South African Police Service (SAPS), after
putting in endless hours of round the clock work, have been able to apprehend
and bring to justice certain suspects in the murder case of Inkosi Mbongeleni
Zondi. One of these suspects unfortunately died when he attempted to evade
justice by fleeing and later by shooting at the police. He was subsequently
shot dead in the ensuing skirmish.
This assassination of Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi has been a sad chapter in our
history as a province, especially for the people of eNgome, and more especially
during this period leading to our fourth democratic national and provincial
elections.
It was only on 3 January 2009 that the president of the African National
Congress (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.
We are gathered here today to celebrate and honour this development
activist, Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi. To this end, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government took a decision to name the new R10.2 million development centre
here at eNgome, which is being officially opened today, the Inkosi Mbongeleni
Zondi multi purpose development centre.
Developments such as this go a long way in proving that we are a people
driven by struggle and hope. Hope that even in the darkest hour, we are strong
enough to struggle and rise against the forces of darkness.
It is an open declaration that the forces of darkness such as crime,
political intolerance and intimidation will not inhibit us from attaining our
noble goal of true liberation that of freeing our people from the bonds of
poverty, illiteracy and all other forms of social and economic privation.
Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi passed away at a time when government programmes
improves 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 councils. This is in accordance with the 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 âout of pocketâ 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 dedicating this Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi Development Centre today, a one
stop centre which will look after all the basic needs and interests of the
local community, we are taking the struggle for the total liberation of our
people one giant step forward.
On behalf of the government of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, I wish to
categorically state that our appreciation for the faith of the people of eNgome
and its environs is reflected in our administration.
We also wish to affirm our commitment to further pursue the developmental
needs of all underdeveloped communities throughout this beautiful province in
order to establish a vibrant and economically, politically and socially stable
KwaZulu-Natal.
For far too long the developmental needs of rural areas in the province were
ignored. The trend was to either totally ignore them or build unnecessary white
elephant structures which were irrelevant to the upliftment of the lives of the
people. However, since 2004, we, as the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government,
took a firm decision to ensure that rural development became a priority.
Our government has solemnly declared a total war against poverty and
privation. The establishment of this centre is an example of a caring
government. We are bringing basic government services to the people, where the
people are, by eliminating the need for poor people to travel long, arduous and
expensive distances to obtain services that rightfully belong to them.
We realise that it is the duty of government to deliver services, and that
we are doing. We, therefore, urge the people of eNgome to make full use of this
facility in order to ensure the upliftment of their lives. We also urge you,
the people of eNgome, to safeguard this precious facility, for if you let it be
vandalized or sabotaged in any manner whatsoever, your development will be
hindered.
We, however, have full confidence in the resilience of the people of eNgome,
as epitomised by Inkosi uBhambatha in 1906. You will recall that on 11 June
2006 we assembled here 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,
reinstated 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.
It is therefore only fitting that this facility be named after Inkosi
Mbongeleni Zondi, and may it be a source of the upliftment and further
development of the people of eNgome.
Masisukume Sakhe!
Thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
14 February 2009
Source: SAPA
