KING SHaKA CELEBRATIONS

ADDRESS BY
PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI, MP
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS (Kwa-zulu natal)
INKOSI OF THE BUTHELEZI CLAN
AND UNDUNANKULU KAZULU 

The Honourable Master of Ceremonies; members of the Royal House and amaKhosi present; Your Excellencies; members of the diplomatic corps and honourable members of the Consular corps; the Mayor of KwaDukuza; the Mayor of Ilembe; the Honourable Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr S'bu Ndebele and Mrs Ndebele; Honourable Ministers from both the National Assembly and the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature; members of Parliament; members of provincial Parliaments; Chairpersons of Regional Councils; their Worships the Mayors; Councillors and Indunas; members of the various clans who comprise the Zulu nation; our distinguished guests.

I am greatly honoured today to address this event organised by the amaKhosi to pay tribute to the father and unifier of our Nation, King Shaka kaSenzangkhona.

I would like to commend the amaKhosi for demonstrating the initiative for organising and funding this important cultural and event, which emphasises the mystical unity of the Zulu Nation. This event also serves to promote a greater sense of social and cultural togetherness within our nation.

I must thank all the subjects of amaKhosi who have worked so hard to make this colourful and meaningful celebration such a resounding success.

One of the praise songs of King Solomon spoke of how he was "drawn from deep pools". This event is living proof that we have retained our best traditions, which are drawn from deep pools. One feels a sense of history and belonging, as we gather on the soil where our illustrious ancestors walked and tilled the land. We are inspired to proclaim proudly: "We are Zulus!"

By taking part in this event, we experience anew the life-enhancing sense of community, continuity, and harmonious living. These are some of the most important attributes that have characterised our Zulu culture over the last 150 years.

Indeed, our gathering bears testimony to the resilience and continuity of both our monarchy and nation. Both of which have withstood the test of time and the unrelenting march of history. Our celebration of Zuluness is not a crude expression of ethno-nationalism, but is lit by a patriotic sense of pride of who we are, and where we come from.

We build a stronger South Africa by cherishing and ascribing the worth our constituent nations deserve.

Ever since King Shaka forged our nation, the amaKhosi have formed the backbone of the Zulu Kingdom. This is as true today, as it was yesterday. The unity and cohesion which the Zulu nation enjoys owes much to the unstinting commitment and dedication, often behind the scenes, of the amaKhosi.

As amaKhosi, you will know better than anyone that we live in a time when the cultural and institutional integrity of our nation is coming under increasing pressure, like never before. This might be our last chance to defend our traditions and institutions. Like King Shaka before us, we need to show the same vigour as if we were fighting for our very survival.

To achieve this, we need to return to the founding vision of King Shaka, which nourished the nascent Zulu nation: the concept of unity and strength. King Shaka intuitively grasped the principle that the prosperity of the nation is intrinsically linked to the stability of its society.

This is why King Shaka sought to bring together the various Nguni clans, who inhabited the territory of this province. This enabled them to focus on the great enterprise of nation building, a process underway in South Africa today. The new society which King Shaka designed is legendary for being organised and ordered according to the concept of a well-regulated people: A nation which was driven by discipline and stamina and which understood the value of working together in harmony. A nation built on the pillars of self-help and self-reliance. A nation at ease with itself. The reason that our Kingdom has survived is because each successive generation has successfully and pragmatically responded to the changing circumstances of their time. Such a time of change is upon us.

As you will know, a White Paper on Traditional Leadership has been developed by the province of KwaZulu-Natal and was finalised in the middle of last year. This important White Paper has far-reaching consequences for the institution of the amaKhosi and, indeed, for our Kingdom.

When I addressed the House of Traditional Leaders on the 17th of September 2004, I drew attention to the fact that the White Paper deals with several important issues, which hitherto were grey legal areas, such as the installation of amaKhosi.

I also said that the White Paper rings many warning bells, which the amaKhosi must urgently heed, such as the problems and consequences that might occur from the intended repealing of the Code of Zulu Law and the KwaZulu Act on the code of Zulu Law.

As we commemorate King Shaka's legacy today, we must acknowledge that in the future the gap between legality and practise will have to be bridged. That is why amaKhosi have an important role to play to ensure the books of law provisions reflect the way things are done, and the way we want them to be done.

AmaKhosi also have a leading role to play in promoting socio-economic change to uplift our communities from the chains of poverty, hunger, homelessness and despair. At the same time, amaKhosi have a duty to maintain in their communities the spirit of ubuntu, in the face of modernisation and the decline of family values.

AmaKhosi have also felt the brunt of an even more profound social crisis, which threatens to spoil all our other gains. To date, the HIV/Aids pandemic has claimed a million, mostly rural, lives. At the rate it is decomposing our communities, the five million South Africans, who are infected, have thus been earmarked for death and annihilation.

The pandemic has created brand new categories of Aids-orphans, child-headed households and the terminally-ill. The disease has been thoroughly destructive. Yet it gives the amaKhosi an opportunity to fight social prejudice and taboo, which have conspired in a vicious circle to perpetuate the pandemic.

In the end, it will take a community leadership of the kind supplied by King Shaka, to conquer this plague. Our approach should be inspired by the famous encircling tactic, suggesting the horns of the bull, which King Shaka used in battle. As I have repeatedly urged, we must encircle this disease in unity to tear down the walls of silence and stigma. If we have the courage to face the challenges with the single-minded determination of King Shaka, there is no hardship we cannot bear, trial we cannot overcome, or bridge we cannot cross to the new frontier.

Now let us build a bridge between the past and the future to derive strength and inspiration from the many sacrifices and acts of heroism, like those of King Shaka, to build a better future for our children and grandchildren. May God Bless the Zulu nation. May God Bless South Africa.