While South Africa\u2019s royal families and traditional leaders cost the country in excess of R650 million a year, a new report shows that this figure may not be enough, especially when it comes to the spending habits of Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini.<\/p>\n
It was discovered, and reported in the Natal Witness<\/a> recently, that Royal Household Trust, which looks after King Zwelithini and his family of six wives and their 40 children, has run into financial difficulty.<\/p>\n The trust’s annual report for the year ended in March, revealed that liabilities exceeded assets by R3.2-million, and that it had a R539,000 deficit, casting doubt over its \u201cability to operate as a going \u00adconcern\u201d.<\/p>\n In KwaZulu Natal, the provincial government even places a budget vote for the Department of Royal Affairs, specifically dedicated to the Zulu Royal Family and the upkeep of King Zwelithini\u2019s palaces.<\/p>\n In its 2014\/15 budget, the department received R54.2 million for the king, which was reportedly swallowed up within months, used to purchase new vehicles for the king\u2019s eight wives.<\/p>\n The king then requested a further R10 million bailout from government, and was awarded R5 million.<\/p>\n In previous years, the Zulu King\u2019s reach into taxpayers\u2019 pockets extended beyond R60 million.<\/p>\n Zwelithini receives an annual salary of R1.03 million<\/strong> a year.<\/p>\n Through the Royal Household Trust’s annual report covering the reporting period of 2014\/15, the Witness revealed that ‘Royal Household Expenses’ \u00adincluded:<\/p>\n The Sunday Times<\/a> also reported that a R1.5-million bill for the king’s lavish wedding to Swazi-born Queen Zola Mafu in July 2014, remains unpaid .<\/p>\n King Zwelithini’s wedding coincided with his 60th birthday celebrations, which cost R4.2 million. That bill was only settled last month, the paper said.<\/p>\n This included R10,000 for a birthday cake and R120,000 on crockery and cutlery.<\/p>\n Taxpayers reportedly forked out almost R3 million on private flights for King Zwelithini to attend social and official engagements over a 15 month period ending in August last year.<\/p>\n The Sunday Tribune reported he had received a R5 million bailout from the provincial government\u00a0 in February.<\/p>\n Documents last year showed that R2.5 million was allocated for the king\u2019s travelling expenses, while R10.3 million was allocated for his palaces and R2.2 million for his six wives.<\/p>\n In May, the Sunday Tribune reported that the Zulu monarchy was buying six new Mercedes Benz E-Class sedans, collectively worth nearly R5 million, for the king\u2019s six wives, while another was to be kept as a \u201cback-up\u201d.<\/p>\n Reporting with News24<\/em><\/p>\n How much you pay for South Africa\u2019s royal families<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Almost R3 million spent on Zulu king\u2019s private flights: report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Cars and cattle worth R34 million for traditional leaders in SA<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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