The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal has clarified its stance following King Misuzulu kaZwelithini‘s recent call to remove ‘Natal’ from the province’s name.

Misuzulu’s KwaZulu-Natal Renaming Proposal

Speaking at the 147th commemoration of the Battle of Isandlwana two weeks ago, the King announced his intention to campaign for the province to be renamed KwaZulu, a proposal that has ignited significant public discussion.

The ANC has made it clear that it has not yet taken any formal position on the matter.

ANC spokesperson, Fanle Sibisi, explained that the issue would require an amendment to the Constitution and public consultation processes as stipulated by South Africa’s democratic legislation.

“The ANC has not made any pronouncements on the topic nor taken any position,” Sibisi said in a statement.

“The ANC has simply clarified that this process will require the amendment of the Constitution and relevant public consultation processes prescribed in our democratic legislation.”

He added that the party acknowledges the historical roots of the province’s current name, stating,

“The ANC acknowledges that the province’s name originated from a dialogue and consensus agreements leading to the constitutionalisation of the name in its current form. These are facts that cannot be ignored.”

Sibisi further noted that no formal requests or submissions have yet been made by any party, reaffirming the ANC’s position that it would address the matter once “a formal process for submissions on this topic is made available by relevant bodies.”

Sibisi also urged the media to report on the issue with objectivity and caution, stressing that it is essential to avoid misreporting or creating any advantage for any party.

“The media is urged to report objectively with facts and not to be caught as players, thereby giving advantage and prejudicing others,” he said.

“The media must report accurately and should not misinterpret or misinform the public.”

Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in KwaZulu-Natal has expressed full support for King Misuzulu’s call.

The IFP praised the proposal as “timely and historically justified.”

According to the IFP, the name KwaZulu reflects the historical reality of the Zulu Kingdom, which once stretched beyond the current provincial boundaries to areas such as the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga.

The party argues that the current name, Natal, is the result of a historical compromise that did not fully acknowledge the true extent of the Zulu Kingdom’s territory.

“The IFP feels vindicated by His Majesty’s position,” said IFP Chief Whip, Blessed Gwala.

“It is well documented that during the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) negotiations in the early 1990s, there was intense debate over the renaming of provinces, particularly Natal.

”The IFP consistently and firmly advocated for the recognition of KwaZulu in acknowledgement of the Zulu Kingdom and its profound historical, cultural, and political significance.”

The IFP also sees the King’s call as a step towards addressing other long-standing historical issues, including the matter of Pietermaritzburg.

Gwala pointed out that Pietermaritzburg is often mistakenly referred to as uMgungundlovu, the royal palace of King Dingane.

According to Gwala, the Voortrekkers named Pietermaritzburg uMgungundlovu in an effort to mock the Zulu people. The IFP views this as an insult to Zulu history, as the original uMgungundlovu palace was destroyed.

“Continuing to refer to Pietermaritzburg as uMgungundlovu is deeply painful and misleading,” Gwala said.

“It distorts history and trivialises the destruction of the original royal palace. Retaining this name perpetuates a false narrative and gives the impression that we accept or celebrate the injustices imposed on the Zulu Nation.”

The IFP also called for a review of other indigenous place names that have been distorted over time, arguing that correcting these names is not only an administrative issue but a matter of dignity and justice.

“Place names carry history, meaning, and collective memory,” Gwala said.

“When written correctly, they restore linguistic integrity, affirm cultural heritage, and honour the lived experiences of local communities,” he said. 

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

IOL Politics 

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