The killing of Mbangiseni Mbuyisa has been described as an attack on Zulu King MisuZulu ka Zwelithini himself. Mbuyisa, a traditional leader from KwaNobamba was killed on Saturday outside his business premises in Ulundi, Kwazulu Natal.
ANOTHER LOSS
Mbuyisa served as Iso lesilo (King's eye) for King Misuzulu and as a traditional leader for KwaNobamba area. He was also a member of the Zululand Local House of Traditional Leaders. MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KZN, Bongi Sithole-Moloi said as a department, they are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of yet another leader within the province's institution of traditional leadership. She said the attacks threaten to destabilise the institution within the province. "We call upon law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in their quest to apprehend the criminals responsible for these attacks. We wish to convey our condolences to the Mbuyisa family and to His Majesty the King, who has lost yet another diligent steward within a very short space of time." Sithole-Moloi called upon the community to work closely with law enforcement in the hunt for the perpetrators.
MOTIVE BEHIND THE KILLINGS
MEC Sithole-Moloi told the media in a briefing last week that the possible motives behind the killings of traditional leaders in KZN are land disputes, taxi-related disputes, chieftaincy disputes and family disputes.
?UNENDING KILLINGS
The death of Mbuyisa follows that of David Bongani Mkhize, a prominent leader of King Misuzulu's regiments from uMbumbulu in the south of Durban who was gunned down early February. Reports state that Mkhize’s killers pretended to be people looking for help with traditional issues. Mkhize’s killing came after the killing of Inkosi Zwelakhe Ndaba of Ntabamhlophe in Estcourt in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, who was shot several times also in February.
In November last year, Inkosi Patrick Siphamandla Khumalo of the Amantungwa traditional council in Utrecht (eMadlangeni) in northern KwaZulu-Natal survived an attempt on his life when his would-be killers pounced on him outside his home. In September also last year, shortly after the Zulu reed dance which was held at eNyokeni royal palace in Nongoma, a confidant of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini and an adviser to reigning King Misuzulu , Dr Dumisani Khumalo, was gunned down as he was leaving the reed dance approaching KwaNongoma town.
