The AmaZulu King, Misuzulu kaZwelithini, feels disrespected by the KwaZulu Natal provincial government after his advisor and praise singer was fired last week. The king's advisor and praise singer Buzetsheni Mdletshe's contract termination will come into effect on April 30.
CONTRACT TERMINATED
Mdletshe was contracted to the office of the Premier of KZN Nomusa Dube-Ncube in 2021 when Misuzulu's father King Goodwill Zwelithini was still alive. Insiders at the royal house believe that Mdletshe, who has been with the royal family since 1977, was being punished for refusing to introduce ANC KZN chairperson Siboniso Duma after his microphone-grabbing incident with Zulu Traditional Prime Minister Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi. In a leaked letter issued by the chief director L.T Mntambo from Premier Nomusa Ncube-Dube's office, Mdletshe's services are to be terminated with effect from 30 April.
The office announced that they were terminating services of Mavukefile (PTY) Ltd, a company owned by Mdletshe, which was providing the services of being "Inyosi" (praise singer) to Misuzulu. "As you may be aware, the office of the premier like all other government departments, and entities has experienced substantial budget cuts. As a result, the office had to review its spending, which included the operational plan, as well as all the contracts and agreements that were concluded with private entities. As part of the process, the agreement between the office of the premier and Mavukefile (Pty) Ltd was reviewed, and a decision was taken to invoke the provisions of clause 16: 3 of the said agreement and to terminate the agreement with effect from 30 April 2024," read the letter from Mntambo.
MISUZULU FEELS DISRESPECTED
In response to his praise singer being fired, Misuzulu through his spokesperson and Zulu Traditional Prime Minister Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi said that he was not happy with the way the KZN government was treating his kingship position. "In their letter, the office of the premier has terminated the contract of the cultural advisory and Inyosi Buzetsheni Mdletshe. Mr Mdletshe is in charge of all the sacred rituals that take place before the Royal ceremonies. The King is disappointed that the KZN government is operating as though His Majesty does not exist," Buthelezi said. According to Buthelezi, Misuzulu has instructed him to make sure that the Mdletshe's services are not lost by the Royal house. "The King also cautioned the KZN government that the disdain with which they treat the royal family in general and the King in particular is an affront to the Zulu nation," said Buthelezi.
NEW PRAISE SINGER APPOINTED BY THE PREMIER
Responding to the king's displeasure, Ncube-Dube's office denied firing Mdletshe. The premier's office said Mdletshe was employed by the provincial government until he reached his retirement age in 2020 and he was paid all his benefits in January 2021. "At the request of the late King Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu, Mr Mdletshe's employment contract was extended by a further two years beyond his compulsory retirement age to continue to provide praise singing to His Majesty and to train and mentor young and upcoming praise singers," the statement continued. According to Ncube-Dube's office two praise singers were identified and mentored by Mdletshe and a Mr Mkhize has been employed to provide the praise-singing services to Misuzulu.
