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For African employee, Manyane Manyane 
3h ago
Johannesburg – The rebellion of the Zulu warriors at the funeral of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, which forced the police to take President Cyril Ramaphosa out the back door for security reasons, was intended to “embarrass” him and send him warning signs of He was not welcomed in KwaZulu-Natal until he smoked a peace pipe with former President Jacob Zuma, sources said.
This week, police were forced to cut through the chain-link fence of the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace to make way for the Ramaphosa caravan after angry Zulu warriors, known as Amabutho, attacked the site of King Zwelithini’s memorial service in protest against the decision to deny them. access to procedures for reasons of Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
This occurred after hundreds of Amabutho, armed with traditional weapons, arrived at the scene without warning and in violation of lockdown regulations, and tried to enter by force. Some of them were seen fighting with the police, threatening them before overpowering them.
Ramaphosa was at the Zulu Royal Palace to read the late King Zwelithini’s eulogy when Amabutho threatened his safety. They reportedly blocked his exit route.
According to media reports, the Amabutho had camped outside the gate to try to enter, but were blocked by security forces, in accordance with Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
In retaliation, the angry crowd closed the road in and out of the palace, saying that no one would leave.
When it was time for Ramaphosa and other dignitaries to leave the palace, the Amabutho prevented the armed SAPS battalion from allowing the mourners to leave.
“The plan was not to harm the president, but to embarrass him. This was a clear message to him that he is not welcome in the province until he has smoked a peace pipe with Zuma and others, “said a source, adding that the incident was” a friendly warning “to Ramaphosa.
Another source said that the Amabutho arrived “without prior notice” and without following Covid-19 regulations to say goodbye to the king.
“The Amabutho arrived unannounced and there were concerns about violations of Covid-19 protocols and security measures that needed to be considered. The Amabutho arrived illegally and was not applied like everyone else. The president had to be taken away quickly because the Amabutho were also breaking Covid-19 regulations, ”the source said.
A source with intimate knowledge of the security plans for the memorial service directly blamed Police Minister Bheki Cele, saying that the police did not take into account the negative sentiments against Ramaphosa among many KwaZulu-Natal residents.
“Cele, as police minister, had to plan an alternative exit route for the president and other dignitaries, as he knew very well that Ramaphosa is persona no grata in some parts of Kwazulu-Natal.”
Ramaphosa spokesman Tyrone Seale did not respond to questions about the circumstances that led to the president’s transfer. Instead, he referred all inquiries to SAPS, saying that security matters are a police matter.
Cele denied yesterday that the army threatened Ramaphosa and blocked the exit of his entourage from the KwaKhethomthandayo palace.
“There was not a caravan of the president who was forced to flee quickly. He arrived in an unmarked black BMW and walked to and from where he was sitting next to his protectors without any threat from Amabutho,” Cele said.
“I was there and I saw everything. The problem started when the president had already left the place, most of the cars that were parked inside wanted to get out and the doors were opened. By then, the president had already left the place , and some of Amabutho, who were singing outside, came in when the doors were opened. “
Cele also denied that the president’s life was in danger and said those reports were “fake news.”
“People always post naughty videos on social media with misleading content, this is one of the fights we have with fake news rowers,” added Cele.
Zulu Royal Household spokesman Prince Thulani Zulu declined to answer questions about the Amabutho’s conduct and allegations that they threatened Ramaphosa’s safety.
“We are still mourning the death of our king and we cannot focus or comment on anything that is happening outside of the mourning world for now,” he said.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize’s spokesperson, Lwazi Manzi, referred questions about non-compliance with Covid-19 regulations to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), “who are the custodians of the Management Law regulations. of Disasters and also of the traditional subjects “.
Cogta spokesman Lungi Mtshali said he was at a funeral. He promised to answer but did not.
Governance expert and political analyst Sandile Swana said the incident said a lot about the relationship between the Zulu monarchy and the elected politicians of KwaZulu-Natal.
But it means something to the elected politicians in KZN. The king wanted everyone to kneel before him, and to understand that as ordinary people, if you are elected president, you come and kneel before the king, which means that neither politics supersedes them nor their standing authority. , their control of land and population.
“Those Amabutho had closed down because they wanted things to be done on their terms. I’m not sure but I think someone tried to introduce some form of security which was not a solution. It was then that they rebelled and seized power and locked up the president.
“This is a reminder that when it comes to amaZulu at KZN it cannot be ignored that they have physical power. They can even abuse the state. It’s like a forbidden area, but you have to understand that when you come with your physical strength in KZN it could be worse. “
Professor Mcebisi Ndletyana said he could not “speculate” on the implications of the incident for Ramaphosa’s political position.
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