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prince is set on kingship claim

ROYAL MATTER: Prince Melizwe Dlamini and a Zulu maiden performing the Nomkhubulwane ritual. Pic. THULI DLAMINI. 06/09/2009. © Sowetan.
ROYAL MATTER: Prince Melizwe Dlamini and a Zulu maiden performing the Nomkhubulwane ritual. Pic. THULI DLAMINI. 06/09/2009. © Sowetan.

PRINCE Melizwe Dlamini of the Nhlangiwini Traditional Council intends to approach the high court after his attempts to gain the same status as that of Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini hit a snag.

PRINCE Melizwe Dlamini of the Nhlangiwini Traditional Council intends to approach the high court after his attempts to gain the same status as that of Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini hit a snag.

Dlamini is one of the kings who has applied to the Moleleki Commission to be put on the same pedestal as Zwelithini.

Speaking to Sowetan yesterday during the last day of the Nomkhubulwane ritual at his palace in High Flats on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, Prince Dlamini said he had received a letter from the commission stating that his application would not be processed.

"The letter said all the work and applications had to be concluded on October 31. They said this means that our application would no longer be processed," said Dlamini.

He said that after receiving this news the council and all amakhosi (chiefs) under him objected and insisted that the matter be taken further.

"We must express our strongest objection to this.

"The commission was appointed in 2003 to investigate and make determination on disputes of several amakhosi, including the Nhlangiwini.

"By legislation it is required to discharge its duties. They have to conclude all the applications."

He said that council and amakhosi have since decided to write to President Jacob Zuma, asking him to extend the date for the commission to conclude its task.

Prince Dlamini said he hoped Zuma's intervention would resolve the problem.

"Failing this, we will approach the high court. We are not backing down on this one.

"We will follow all the correct channels to have this matter settled," he said.

Sowetan's attempts to solicit comment on the matter from the commission's Mohlomi Moleleki were unsuccessful.

The Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims was established in terms of the Traditional Leadership Governance and Framework Act 41, 2003.

It operates nationally and has the authority to decide on any traditional dispute and claim contemplated in the act, arising in any province.

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