Royal household receives R58.9-million budget

ZULU King Goodwill Zwelithini and his household will receive R58.9-million from the KZN Premier’s office for the next financial year – a R10-million increase from last year.

Tabling his office’s budget at the KZN Legislature on Tuesday, Premier Willies Mchunu said the funds will continue to support to the Royal Household Trust to cater for the remuneration of staff, seven board members, as well as the Queens’ expenses, including travel and accommodation.

In addition, the Trust provides for other costs such as tuition fees, transportation and medical expenses for the Royal Family, as well as the Royal farming activities.

Mchunu’s department assumed responsibility over the Royal Household’s budget two years ago after gross overspending in 2014 led to the King seeking a bailout to the tune of R12-million.

And it was evident at the address the Premier is still keeping close tabs on the King’s spending priorities.

‘The Royal Household Trust is fundamentally responsible for fund-raising and commercialising of the King’s grazing land.

‘So far there has not been any visible achievement in fund-raising activities and this matter will be addressed with the Trust as a matter of urgency with a view to improve the work of the Trust in this aspect.’

But he commended the King’s participation in important ceremonies and traditional functions of the province, such as the opening of the KZN Provincial Legislature, opening of the Traditional

House, hosting the Reed Dance, First Fruits (Umkhosi Woselwa) and Amarula Fruit (Amaganu) ceremonies.

‘His Majesty, the King will also continue to install Amakhosi statutorily and in terms of custom.’

Unhappy opposition

Opposition parties, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and National Freedom Party (NFP), were displeased with the office’s persistent control over the royals’ budget.

‘Since the Royal Household was combined with the Office of the Premier, nobody can produce any evidence that this move has been good for either department,’ NFP member Njabulo Mlaba said during the debate.

‘The Royal Household continues to struggle to be self-sustaining and it is largely dependent on the allocations it receives for the department.’

He added in light of the recent downgrade of our economy to junk status, public funds must be spent wisely.

‘Can you therefore make a commitment today, that you will abandon your plans to use public funds to celebrate OR Tambo?

‘Surely the ANC can finance these celebrations itself as this is clearly a party programme and not a government one.’

Apart from the Royal Trust, the Premier committed to spend:

• R87.3-million on administration

• R354.3-million on institutional development

• R101.5-million on strategic human resources

• R79.7-million on information communication technology (ICT)

• R11.7-million on legal services

• R52-million on communication services

• R46-million on special programmes

• R14.7-million on inter-governmental relations

• R48.3-million on gaming and betting

• R300.6-million on policy and governance

• R50.6-million on provincial policy management

• R132.4-million on the Premier’s Priority Programmes

• R58.7-million on heritage

The office collects R587.3-million revenue, mainly from casino taxes, levies and bookmakers’ tax.

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