by Kolapo Olapoju
Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini while speaking at an anti-xenophobia imbizo at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, denied that he ignited the xenophobic violence in South Africa.
During the gathering, which had 10, 000 people and 300 traditional leaders in attendance, the head of the Zulu nation stated that his people are peaceful and he has called on them to protect foreigners in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Coming to why I called this Imbizo, what is important, that I need to highlight is that this Imbizo is not that the Zulu King sparked what happened. It is for me to let people know that we should stop what is happening. It has made me happy that the South African government agrees with me that there is a Third Force that we need to be dealing with, or fighting.”
“This violence directed at our brothers and sister is shameful. I’m certain that the people who were listening to my speech (last month), understand Zulu well and did not need interpretation.”
“When you look at South Africa, it is doing what it was cautioned not to do, from the reports that I have mentioned.”
“Even today I am asking those in the media to police my speech in Pongolo, the whole speech, and not pick and choose what they publish in order for people to know what I said, where my words come from.”
“A lot of people who listened to me in Pongolo have not killed anyone. Nor have we heard that Pongolo is burning. People should protect people wherever they are, regardless of whichever town or city they are in.”
“We are a nation that loves peace and even though there have been poking at us, we have to keep peace, because we know what war means. The war that I am waging is for us to protect every foreigner in this country, regardless of which country they come from.”
King Goodwill Zwelithini added that he has written two letters to the South African Human Rights Commission regarding his comments on foreigners, made in Pongolo, KwaZulu-Natal in March 2015.
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