Zulu royal family says Reed Dance will be done within allocated budget

As the Zulu royal family wraps up final preparations for the annual Reed Dance festival which will take place at the weekend, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s office said the function will be conducted within the allocated budget.

This was revealed by the king’s spokesperson, Prince Thulani Zulu, who said although the function may need more funds, the royal family is working with the budget that was allocated before the king made the decision to move it from Enyokeni royal palace to the Mashobeni palace.

“We are working with (the funding) that was allocated. It's not that we don't need more money, but Treasury announced that there will be no additional funding for moving the event to another venue,” said Zulu.

The event will take place in Mashobeni palace near Pongolo in the north-east of KwaZulu-Natal where the king will deliver a keynote address to thousands of maidens and guests. When the king announced last month that the event will no longer be held at Enyokeni, there was concern that tax payers will have to pay extra because Mashobeni  requires VIP marquees and toilets.

However, Finance MEC Francois Rodgers dismissed any fears that the cash-strapped provincial government will bear the additional costs. 

Defending his decision, the king said he was honouring Queen Nandi and King Shaka who had a palace in the area. 

Addressing the 'mini-Reed Dance' festival in Machobeni, in Ngwavuma, in the north-east of the province on Saturday, the king reportedly announced that he would no longer follow protocol and choose a wife from the maidens who will attend, stating that he regarded them as his children.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za