Poor state of Zulu king’s home is costing paypayers
King Goodwill Zwelithini has not stayed in his KwaMashu home since the 1990s, instead booking into hotels - where he could be paying between R3 500 and R50 000 per night.
|||Durban - King Goodwill Zwelithini’s KwaMashu home is poorly maintained and he has not stayed there on visits to Durban since the 1990s, instead booking into hotels.
And according to unconfirmed claims by at least two residents, part of the Embelebeleni royal home was being leased out.
The Zulu king stopped using Embelebeleni after an attack there left his cousin dead and a daughter injured.
The condition of the home and the king’s six palaces has been blamed on the way funding for the royals was being channelled and managed.
IFP leader in the provincial legislature, Blessed Gwala, said the fault lay with the Premier’s Office which had dissolved the Royal Household Department and left a Royal Household Trust, based in the Premier’s Office, to run the affairs of the royal family.
“These royal houses cannot look decent or dignified because there are no funds allocated for repairs of the structures. There should be a person responsible solely for repairs of all the king’s palaces, something which we doubt is the case,” said Gwala.
Had the KwaMashu house been kept in a condition “fit for the king” there would have been no need for hotel bookings when his majesty visited Durban, he added.
“We want to know if the house has been incorporated into the Premier’s Office and whether it also forms part of the planning and budgeting when the money is allocated for the royal household upkeep.”
Hotels in Durban were reluctant to name their high-profile guests, but a snap survey found the better establishments were charging anything from R3 500 to R50 000 a night.
In the case of a royal, there would also be the royal entourage to consider, which might include other royals, courtiers advisers, drivers, bodyguards and lesser assistants. All would also have to be put up for the night - although, presumably, in less salubrious quarters - which, when added to the above figures, amounts to quite a princely sum.
The Beverly Hills, a favourite with stars and royals, offers a presidential suite from between R12 500 and R16 725 a night, while Zimbali lodge’s penthouse costs R30 220 and the presidential suite, R40 420. A single room goes for R3 499 a night.
A classic garden room at the Oyster Box can cost guests R4 100 while a presidential suit will cost R50 000. The Hilton charges R1 750 with breakfast while R7 000 buys a stay in a presidential suit.
Suncoast charges R1 600 per room per night, R6 500 for the presidential suite and R13 500 for the penthouse.
Daily News