The Zulu royal household budget is R36,4-million for this financial year, an increase of R6-million over the previous year.
Addressing the KwaZulu-Natal legislature on Thursday, Premier Sbu Ndebele said this included R14-million for the refurbishment of King Goodwill Zwelithini’s palaces and another R2,2-million allocated to the king’s farms.
Zwelithini, who arrived midway through Ndebele’s address, and his family received R20,1-million.
Ndebele highlighted the benefits of establishing a self-sustaining Royal Trust. A Bill establishing the Royal Trust is set to be debated in the provincial legislature in the coming months.
The king has in the past expressed his opposition to the Bill, saying that the royal household department should co-exist with the trust.
The ruling African National Congress has touted the trust as a way to control the royal household’s costs. Two years ago the budget of the trust was R21-million.
Concerns were expressed by Mike Tarr, the chairperson of the premier’s portfolio committee, over a lack of control over expenditure and that there had in the past year been expenditure that was not budgeted for, especially vehicle expenses.
Tarr said a trust was necessary to build up capital, which could be used for the benefit of the Zulu royal family. He said the creation of a trust would be in line with the way in which other royal families sustained themselves. — Sapa