Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini has called for maturity among the people of KwaZulu-Natal ahead of general elections on April 22.
Speaking during the opening of the provincial legislature in Pietermaritzburg, he appealed to his subjects to show that they have matured, 15 years into democracy.
Yesterday's opening was attended by ANC heavyweights and its alliance partners, including party president Jacob Zuma, Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, provincial MECs, traditional leaders and the general public.
Notably absent during the ceremony was IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Zwelithini said it was important for leaders to develop "acute hatred for vanities and unnecessary skirmishes or hate speech".
He also used the opportunity to condemn the killing of police officers.
Zwelithini said police officers were an important and integral part of the community, whose sole purpose and duty is to protect the country and its citizens.
"The recent spate of killings of police in the province has been very hurtful and we need to condemn such incidents," he said.
His majesty also took a swipe at recent xenophobic attacks.
"We rely on you to craft policies that will obviate sour feelings from South Africans, who perceive that foreigners are now preferred by local employers because they can be employed casually, claim no membership to any trade union, and accept lowest wages.
"We do not want to deal with ugly faces of xenophobia again," he said.