AfriForum and Zulu Kingdom's Partnership to Use Ingonyama Trust Land Angers Mzansi: "I Don't Support This"

• The Zulu Kingdom has partnered with the civil society group, AfriForum, to utilise Ingoyama Trust land better
• The partnership was announced at the inaugural Zulu Kingdom Investment Conference on Tuesday
• Some South Africans are sceptical about the partnership, while others say it might benefit the Zulu nation

DURBAN - AfriForum and the Zulu Kingdom are joining forces to advance the socioeconomic development of the Zulu nation and utilise the underused Ingonyama Trust. However, some South Africans are unhappy with the partnership.

This partnership was revealed at the inaugural Zulu Kingdom Investment Conference in Durban on Tuesday, 30 November.

According to TimesLIVE, the conference's objective was to discuss ways in which Zulu kingdom citizens could participate in the economy of their land under the control of the Ingonyama Trust.

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“There are tracts of underutilised Ingonyama Trust land so we’re trying to put together our thinking about how we can mobilise Amakhosi to be economic development agents and champions," said Prof Musa Xulu.

Some South Africans are not convinced that the partnership will benefit Zulu people and believe AfriForum has ulterior motives. Here's what one person said:

@TTOfficialSA said:

"Black people must learn to stand on their own. I don't support this."

Xulu stated that the conference was formed after King Misuzulu kaZwelithini was approached by a group of private individuals who presented the idea to him.

He added that AfriForum would bring in farming opportunities to ensure household food security since Amabatho have not productively used the land. According to AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel, the organisation will only play an advisory role.

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This is not the first time, AfriForum and the Zulu Kingdom have formed a partnership. In 2018, the late King Goodwill Zwelithini had a similar deal with AfriForum for agriculture development of Ingoyama Trust land, reported EWN.

Here's what South Africans have to say about the partnership:

@bigkoostar said:

"Afriforum is a white saviour. I feel sorry for those who still believe in this "kingdom"."

@SthabisoDwala said:

"The work was started by uMdlokombane but watch people who don’t like King Misuzulu try to spin this as a King selling out."

@biks8 said:

"This is a good thing - that land was sitting stagnant for years ... The locals can benefit immensely."

@karabop091 said:

"Afriforum is protecting the interests of its people at the expense of blacks. Watch the space."

@emekaezenwugo said:

"Potentially the most consequential event of 2022. Nation building is serious business. Praying it goes well with the Ingonyama Trust/Afriforum initiative. If it succeeds it is a win for the entire Southern Africa."

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@Noncebamtwana said:

"The same land that women in KZN have been fighting to access, that land. And this is going to ensure socio-economic development how when AfriForum owns the land. Andadana!"

AfriForum receives backlash for fighting equality court's ruling that labelled apartheid flag as hate speech

In other news, Briefly News previously reported that the Afrikaans civil rights movement, AfriForum, is being lambasted online for wanting to display the South African apartheid flag. Equality Court ruled that the flag's display was a form of hate speech regardless of whether it is being done in public or private places.

The movement's application to overturn the ruling made by the Equality Court that declared the displaying of the flag as hate speech angered South Africans. The Supreme Court of Appeal will attend to the matter in Bloemfontein.

Despite the immense backlash, CEO of AfriForum Ernst Roets said the group and its members do not display the flag out of hate but described it as free speech.

Source: Briefly News