The Zulu nation in South Africa was deprived of its eighth Monarch on 12 March 2021. Late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu reigned for five decades and succumbed to complications from diabetes in a hospital in Durban at the age of 72. He was born in July 1948 at Nongoma, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal - KZN province in South Africa, with Durban as its capital). The eldest son of King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, he was educated at the Bekezulu College of Chiefs and then privately tutored. His installation as the eighth Monarch of the Zulus took place at a traditional ceremony on 3 December 1971 and was attended by 20,000 people. As per post apartheid South African constitution, the King has a ceremonial role. This recognition as a traditional ruler in South Africa's post-apartheid constitution, meant that he received state support. Though he did not have formal political power and his role within the broader South African society was a ceremonial one, he was revered as a traditional leader, even by those outside his culture.
Throughout his half-century reign he was a staunch advocate of preserving cultural identity and promoting unity, especially among AmaZulu (the Zulu people). He also assiduously fostered reconciliation and cultural cooperation between Zulus and members of the Indian community of South Africa, a good majority of whom live in KZN province.
The Indian origin people in South Africa are mainly descendants of the first indentured labourers who arrived in ships as sugar cane plantation workers in the 19th Century. Late King Zwelithini frequently referred to the Indians as being part of his loyal subjects. He also adopted some leaders from the community as advisers. The most notable of them was businessman and philanthropist Ishwar Ramlutchman, who acted as a bridge between the two communities of KZN. The Late King had anointed Ramlutchman as a prince of the Zulu Kingdom for his commitment and promotion of social cohesion, nature conservation and respect for everyone''s cultural heritage and religion. He believed that lasting bonds between African and Indian communities in South Africa were crucial to a prosperous future especially as both communities had suffered greatly due to apartheid. Annual Diwali celebrations at the Late King’s home in rural Nongoma were, of late, organised by Ramlutchman, with performances by Zulu and Indian artists, and were attended by thousands of people.
Late King Zwelithini wanted a special relationship between his nation and India. In my engagements with him as India’s High Commissioner to South Africa, he always spoke of the contribution that India could make to South Africa, especially through skill development of young South Africans. He was happy to attend the community reception hosted by the KZN and Durban authorities in honour of PM Modi, during his visit to South Africa in July 2016 and spoke very warmly of his (the King’s) regard for India and its development under the PM’s leadership.
In 2017, Zwelithini paid the first ever visit to the official residence of the Consul General in Durban, where I had come from Pretoria to receive him along with a team of senior representatives of the High Commission. Dr Shashank Vikram, then India’s Consul General in Durban and currently Consul General in Birmingham, hosted us with his lovely wife, Dr Megha. During this engagement, the Late King told us of his desire to make the province of Kwazulu-Natal a better place for all its citizens. He believed that Indians and Zulus could work together to make this possible. He planted a tree at India House to mark the occasion. We presented him with a large portrait of him with PM Modi taken at the Civic Reception in Durban.
The loss of King Zwelithini will be felt by the Zulu nation and people as the Late King worked tirelessly to revive cultural traditions that had been forgotten or buried during the apartheid regime. For the people of Indian origin in South Africa, his passing away means the loss of a well wisher and friend of the community who encouraged peace and harmony between communities for common benefit.
