Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso is considering suspending the embattled Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB).

The eight-member board was appointed in 2022, however, it has been at loggerheads with king Misuzulu kaZwelithini, who is the Trust’s sole trustee. The king disbanded the board in December last year, however, the decision was reversed by Nyhontso who argued that he alone had the powers to dissolve the board and not the king.

On Monday, Nyhontso and Misuzulu appeared to have resolved their disagreement over the board with both delegating Misuzulu’s Traditional Prime Minister Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi to read out a suspension letter of the board to traditional leaders (amakhosi). The board had asked the amakhosi to attend a three-day conference in Durban to discuss their role in land management.

Both the minister and the king distanced themselves from the conference, saying they were unaware of it. The minister also recalled his staff who had attended. Through Buthelezi, the king questioned how the board arranged for amakhosi to attend a conference without his or Buthelezi’s knowledge. 

In the letter announcing the intention to suspend the board, Buthelezi said Nyhontso, in order to enable the investigation to proceed without any interference by the board members, had considered placing them on special leave. The board has been asked to provide reasons why it should not be suspended by Friday.

“As your Majesty is aware, I have appointed Advocate Marumo Moerane, SC to conduct an investigation into the affairs of the Ingonyama Trust Board. In order to enable the investigation to proceed without any interference by the board members, I am considering placing them on a special leave. This process requires that I appoint or terminate only after consulting with you. Therefore, this letter serves to consult you,” read Nyhontso’s letter.

After reading the letter, Buthelezi told the amakhosi that the king asked them to consider whether it was necessary to continue sitting in a meeting called by a board that was appointed without his or the amakhosi’s input.

The board’s deputy chairperson Advocate Linda Nzima tried to convince amakhosi that the conference should continue.

Amakhosi said they were shocked that neither the king nor the minister were informed about the conference and raised concerns that if they continued, this would be seen as defying the king’s authority. 

Buthelezi eventually announced that amakhosi would no longer participate as the board had been notified that there was an intention to suspend it.

In October Nyhontso announced the Moerane Commission had been appointed to probe the financial and governance breakdown of the Board.

There has been uncertainty in the operations of the board since Misuzulu, in December last year, said he would not recognise it.

After dissolving the board, the king appointed Van Rensburg Kruger Rakwena Attorneys to conduct a forensic audit into the financial affairs of the Ingonyama Trust and its board.

However, it is unclear what happened to that investigation as, to date, no findings have been publicised.

The Ingonyama Trust Board was established by the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act 3KZ of 1994 under the then KwaZulu Government. The Trust manages close to 3 million hectares of land.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

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