Appealing for peace and calm, incoming amaZulu King Misuzulu Zulu KaZwelithini, has instructed his subjects to withdraw from participating in the wanton destruction of businesses, looting and public violence gripping KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.<\/p>\n
The King made the call during an address to the nation on Wednesday amid public violence, which has taken place over the past six days. The unrest, which started in KZN on Friday, had by Tuesday evening claimed the lives of 72 people in the two provinces.<\/p>\n
The brazen demolition of infrastructure, the King said, was not the right way to express dissatisfaction, saying it created a picture of a people \u201cwho have lost their dignity\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is even more saddening is that so many of those who are drawn into this lawlessness and criminality are members of the Zulu nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has brought great shame upon us, as all fingers are pointed at my father’s people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never thought after the tragic passing of my parents that I would see our own people so complicit in burning down the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
King Misuzulu said he fully understood the depression, borne of poverty and unemployment, especially among the youth, which has led some to join in the chaos.<\/p>\n
Despite this, he appealed to the nation to take a step back and consider the damage that the protest action had inflicted.<\/p>\n
He said while the chaos will destroy the country\u2019s economy, the poor and vulnerable will pay the highest price.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen food cannot be delivered – because trucks and warehouses are being burned by our people – we will go hungry. As my father King Goodwill Zwelithini would say; let us stay away from match sticks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen vaccines and medicines cannot be delivered, there will be no help for the sick and the dying,\u201d said the King.<\/p>\n
Compounding matters, he said, is that the violence is unfolding amid the deadly third wave of COVID-19. For this reason, he said he believes that his father\u2019s people are \u201ccommitting suicide\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne cannot see, but it is happening.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur nation is highly respected all over the world, and is known as a nation that is very proud of its dignity and morals,\u201d said King Misuzulu, urging the nation to stop participating in the destruction of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cI appeal for calm; for peace to be restored. I call on our people to lead by example [and] not allow politics to change [the] dignity of our nation to be led to destruction. We are better than this. Let us respect the rule of law, and ensure order returns.\u201d<\/p>\n