Johannesburg - A group of Amabutho from Pietermaritzburg are seething with rage after they were allegedly forced to make their own transport arrangements to the recent King Misuzulu's coronation event at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The group that spoke to 1KZNTV said they want an explanation of what happened after officials from the provincial government reneged on their promise to provide buses that would ferry them to the event, which took place on Saturday.
This past Saturday, South Africa and the international community witnessed the crowning of the ninth King of the Zulu Nation being recognised by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, who handed over the certificate of appointment to King Misuzulu KaZwelithini.
Various traditional groups, including male and female regimens from across the province and other parts of the country, attended this historical event, which added a cultural and traditional splendour to the proceedings, which were also attended by leading members of society, including politicians and business leaders.
However, this group of men from Pietermaritzburg said that leading up to the coronation event, they were made to believe that transportation would be provided for them to attend the coronation.
They told 1KZNTV that they met with local government officials, who promised buses that would take them from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and back.
According to the station, these men were promised 20 buses, but when they tried to confirm with the officials following a series of meetings in preparation for the trip, these officials were nowhere to be found, and they were then forced to fend for themselves as a result.
Lindokuhle Mkhize, who spoke on behalf of the affected men, said that days before the coronation when they realised that time was not on their side, they tried to make contact with the officials but could not reach any of them.
"When we saw that the day of the coronation was approaching, we tried to make contact with these officials; however, they were nowhere to be found. This is after we were promised 20 buses to take us to the king's coronation at Moses Mabhida. We were under the impression that what was discussed in the meetings we attended would be acted upon and that these buses would be made available so that all of us, as Amabutho, would attend," Mkhize said.
"We used our own money. Who is going to refund us? They should have told us in the first place that they were not going to be able to help us so that we could make alternative arrangements for ourselves," another member chimed in.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial spokesperson Lennox Mabaso was not available to comment, but indications are that the province will investigate the claims made by the group and communicate its findings on the matter.
The Star