Zulu king’s finances are in a shambles

Zulu king’s finances are in a shambles
December 4 2011 at 02:48pm
By Nathi Oliphant

INLSA

King Goodwill Zwelithini

The celebration of King Goodwill Zwelithini’s 40-year reign has been clouded by news that the royal household department finances are in a shambles.

This as the month-long lavish parties and celebrations of the Zulu monarch’s reign started at KwaKhethomthandayo Palace yesterday.

A mid-year report to the finance committee in the legislature this week revealed that there had been overspending, construction projects left hanging, and staff pay drawn from the wrong budget.

In March last year Finance MEC Ina Cronje increased the royal household’s budget allocation from R40.643 million in 2009/10 to R48.560m in 2012/13.

Having overspent by R2.7m by mid -2009, the royal household was asked to pay back R3m to cover for that shortfall from their current budget.

The finance committee, chaired by Belinda Scott, noted that a major problem was the failure to get the Royal Household Trust off the ground.

As a result the department expected to overspend up to R12.8m on salaries this year.

The report also noted that about R8m for renovating the king’s homestead was still in the department’s hands because the king rejected an infrastructure business plan they had drawn up.

Costs are also to be incurred with the demolition and construction of rondavels at Dlamahlahla Palace, an extension of the main house, construction of rondavels at Ingwavuma Palace and major renovations to offices at Linduzulu Palace. - Sunday Tribune