The KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders (KZNHTL) will on Wednesday discuss the arrest of two amakhosi who are facing murder and rape charges, which are not related to each other.    

Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma, who is a popular associate and relative of Jacob Zuma, has been charged following the murder of his induna, who is also his relative. 

Another, Inkosi Thulabenzwe Dlamini, who is a relative of former African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is appearing in court for allegedly raping an 18-year-old woman last month.

When contacted about the arrests, KZNHTL secretary Ntshinkala Dumo said the House would comment after its meeting on Wednesday. 

“At the moment, there is still consultation, and once the decision is taken, it will be communicated after the meeting that is rescheduled for tomorrow,” said Dumo. 

Inkosi has been charged in connection with the murder of the senior induna of his Nxabalala tribal authority in Mpendle, KwaZulu-Natal midlands, Qalokunye Zuma, who was also his relative.

Both Inkosi Zuma and Inkosi Dlamini did not respond to questions sent to them via WhatsApp, and their phones were not answered. 

National Prosecuting Authority’s KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said Zuma faced charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, and was remanded in custody until Wednesday for a bail application.

Inkosi Zuma faces the charges along with another induna of his clan, who is also an accused in the murder of a Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor in uMngeni Municipality, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu. 

Inkosi Zuma was well-known for supporting the former president during court appearances. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) leaders would normally visit his palace to conduct traditional ceremonies. 

Inkosi Zuma’s co-accused in the murder of Qalokunye Zuma is Zwelithini Buthelezi, who is also an induna in KwaNxamalala.

Qalokunye Zuma was a senior induna, in charge of all izinduna in the tribal authority, when he was sprayed with bullets and killed in front of his children, wife, and customers who were buying at his tavern at his homestead in Novuka village in January 2023. 

Ndlovu was the chief whip at the uMngeni Municipality when he was killed in the same executional style in December 2023.

Qalokunye Zuma was in his bedroom when strangers arrived at his homestead asking to talk to him. 

When he approached them, they opened fire, killing him instantly before getting away in a car that was parked nearby.

A few days after the murder, Inkosi Zuma told this reporter that he was shocked by the murder of Qalokunye Zuma, whom he said was his close confidant

“Which is why I promoted him to be my prime minister (chief induna).”

At the time, Inkosi Zuma said he was shocked that a person could be killed in broad daylight and in full view of the people because Impendle was known to be a peaceful rural town. 

“Had it been a faction fighting, we would be able to deal with it by talking to warring factions to lay down arms,” said Inkosi Zuma.

On social media, a member of the Zuma family told a journalist that the implication of the Inkosi in the murder was shocking because Inkosi Zuma and Qalokunye Zuma were related.

Buthelezi, who was arrested a month earlier before Inkosi’s arrest, made his first appearance on May 30 in Ndlovu’s murder, and the case was postponed to July 9.

According to the DA, Buthelezi did not apply for bail.

In the Ndlovu’s murder, Buthelezi is charged along with Thobani Hlongwa, who was alleged to be the trigger man, and another suspect whose identity could not be established.   

Meanwhile, Inkosi Dlamini of the Bhidla Tribal Authority, will appear at the Ixopo Magistrate’s Court on Friday facing rape and kidnapping charges. 

“The charge of kidnapping was added because he drove past the area where he was supposed to drop the girl,” said a councillor who attended Inkosi Dlamini’s court appearances but who declined to be named for fear of victimisation. 

Inkosi Dlamini threw a big party to wish Dlamini-Zuma good luck when she was going to the 2017 ANC national elective conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg, to compete with President Cyril Ramaphosa for the party’s presidency position. 

It was alleged that Inkosi Dlamini gave an 18-year-old girl a lift on May 3, but instead of dropping her at her destination, he continued driving the car and only stopped at a spot where there were no people and allegedly raped her. 

In a statement released shortly after Inkosi Dlamini’s arrest and his first appearance at the Hlanganani Magistrate’s Court on May 9, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu condemned the alleged sexual assault on the victim. 

“This vile act — allegedly committed by someone who holds a position of leadership and authority— is a betrayal of the moral, ethical, and societal responsibilities bestowed upon traditional leaders; it flies in the face of the values we seek to uphold in a just, safe, and respectful society. 

“It is clear that this Inkosi premeditated this and executed his plan using his car. 

“All along and up to now, when engaging with my counterpart in CoGTA, it has been around the role that traditional leaders need to play on various social ills and around their security concerns, but we have never thought that we now have to engage on their involvement in the act of rape,” said Mchunu in a statement.

bongani.hans@inl.co.za  

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