Green light for new district name
The uThungulu Council approved the hosting of the launch of the new name on 26 July and also sanctioned a new logo design for the district, which will be unveiled at the event
IT’S official. The uThungulu District Municipality is to be renamed to King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
The uThungulu Council on Wednesday approved the hosting of the launch of the new name on 26 July and also sanctioned a new logo design for the district, which will be unveiled at the event.
This follows a prior public participation process to re-title the council-owned uThungulu municipal offices to King Cetshwayo House.
As a first step towards the building and the district renaming, permission had to be sought from the current monarch, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini, who is the direct descendant of King Cetshwayo.
According to the council item, Zwelithini greatly welcomed the renaming and further requested that a statue of the late King Cetshwayo be manufactured and erected outside the building.
The MEC for COGTA is expected to gazette the name change tomorrow (Tuesday).
King Cetshwayo
The naming of the building after King Cetshwayo is motivated by the desire to honour King Cetshwayo for the role he played in trying to protect the rights of his people.
He was born in an area currently falling under uThungulu District and is also buried within uThungulu boundaries.
King Cetshwayo was renowned for his strong military leadership and political acumen and was considered a threat to British colonial interests.
His refusal to bow to land demands by the British colonialists led to the so-called Anglo-Zulu War in early 1879.
He led his warriors against the British at the Battle of Isandlwana where the British suffered a most crushing defeat.
However, after the Battle of Isandlwana, the British became more determined, finally capturing the Zulu capital at the Battle of Ulundi in July 1879.
King Cetshwayo died in February, 1884, never having surrendered his principles for the freedom of his people.
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