The office of the Zulu Monarch has issued a firm denial of reports that King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has approved a proposal for every Zulu person to donate R10 per month to fund the royal household.
The denial was made by the official royal spokesperson, Prince Thulani Zulu, in a televised interview, where he sought to clarify what he termed “rumours” and “uncalled for” reports that have caused confusion among the public.
The controversy began after conflicting media reports emerged, with some outlets seemingly endorsing a “King’s Levy” while the royal house itself moved to distance the monarchy from the idea.
“The rumours… that the people of KwaZulu have been requested to donate R10… is actually uncalled for and as the royalty we deny having had to do such a thing,” stated Prince Thulani.
He emphasized that the proposal was never formally presented to the King, discussed, or endorsed by any official structure of the royal house. “It was never tabled, discussed, or even endorsed by any official structure of the royal house,” he reiterated from an earlier statement.
Prince Thulani expressed frustration with media outlets, accusing them of taking unverified information and presenting it as fact. He issued a caution, stating, “Media people should… verify each and every information before they attach whatever information to the royalty.”
He further solidified his position as the sole authoritative voice for the King, a point he stressed repeatedly. “I am the spokesperson of his majesty… whatever that must come from the king comes through me,” he said, seemingly addressing confusion caused by commentary from other high-profile figures within the kingdom, such as the chairperson of the King’s Council, Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi.
While dismissing the current proposal, Prince Thulani did not entirely rule out a similar initiative in the future. “Maybe one day I don’t rule it out,” he said, clarifying that any such plan would have to be formally presented to and approved by the King and implemented through proper, legal channels.
The interview also shed light on the financial state of the royal household. Prince Thulani confirmed that the monarchy is not financially stable and is largely dependent on government funding. He explained that the approximately R86 million allocated annually by the KwaZulu-Natal government is primarily used for salaries and operational costs of the chief directorate within the Office of the Premier, with less than half benefiting the royal activities directly.
He revealed that a Royal Household Trust exists to fundraise and supplement government funding, with the ultimate goal of achieving financial independence. “We have a dream that one day the kingdom will be independent from the government,” he said, acknowledging that government funding often comes with policy restrictions that can hinder traditional activities.
The need for greater financial resources was highlighted with the upcoming Reed Dance ceremony, whose government-funded budget is reportedly insufficient to cover all the required costs. Despite this need, the royal house insists it will not resort to unofficial levies on its subjects.