Premier Mchunu gives King Zwelithini R10m raise

KwaZulu-Natal premier Willies Mchunu tabled his office’s budget at the province’s legislature on Tuesday and gave the King Goodwill Zwelithini royal household an increase of R10 million on last year’s allocation.

However, the premier, some ANC councillors and opposition MPLs have raised concerns about the lack of direction of the Royal Household Trust, general lack of accountability and the state of the king’s farms.

Mchunu pointed out, in his budget speech, that he was not pleased with the affairs of the Royal Household Trust and its failure to raise funds for the king, The Times has reported.

Mchunu reportedly said that of the R742.1 million budget, the royal household would receive R58.8 million in the 2017/18 financial year, with only R16.5 million going towards the Royal Household Trust.

The R16.5 million would cover the remuneration of staff, seven board members and the queens’ expenses, including travel and accommodation, the maintenance of the royal palaces, tuition fees, transportation and medical expenses for the royal family.

The remaining balance would assists in the king’s participation in various ceremonies and traditional functions in the province.

The trust, responsible for fundraising and commercialisation of Zwelithini’s grazing land, has not made any “visible” achievement, according to the premier.

However, Mchunu has vowed to continue giving the trust financial support to “fulfil its mandate”.

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