What exactly is the Ingonyama Trust and how does it work?

With the land expropriation hearings taking place across the country, a whole range of people seem to be getting worried that their land might be taken by the state. Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini is one of those people. For him, the Ingonyama Trust is under threat.

What is the Ingonyama Trust?

According to the trust’s board, the mandate of the trust is to hold land for “the benefit, material welfare and social well-being of the members of the tribes and communities” living on the land.

While the land was originally “made lawful” by the apartheid government before democracy, the trust had to be amended in 1994 to comply with the country’s constitution.

So why does King Zwelithini keep going on about government not including the Ingonyama Trust’s land once expropriation begins?

Well, the King of the Zulu Kingdom (Zwelithini) is the “sole trustee of the land”. The Amendment Act led to the establishment of the Ingonyama Trust Board to help administer affairs relating to the land.

In plain English, that means that Zwelethini holds all of the land which his people farm, work and live.

Read – Goodwill Zwelithini: Five quick facts about the Zulu King

As a former state institution, the trust was exempt from paying tax from 1994 to mid 2005. The position was taken on in the Supreme Court of Appeal and occupants were made to pay tax going forward.

How does former President Kgalema Motlante factor into all of this?

Motlante was tasked by the ANC to investigate and create a report on the trust and how the land issue should be handled. According to the report, the trust needs to be repealed or at least have big changes made.

Motlante found that in its current form, the trust and its implementation has infringed on the and rights of the beneficiaries. Similar arguments to Motlante’s have been made before, Zwelthini has been accused of manipulating and neglecting his people.

Over the years, there have been numerous reports of Zwelthini and co not allocating land fairly.

The King’s household is allocated a very tasty R58m budget per year. A personal salary of R1.1m is also paid out, all paid for by the state.

In response to Motlante’s report, Zwelithini has warned that “all hell will break loose” if the trust’s land is taken away.

At the beginning of July, Zwelithini held a Land Imbizo to discuss issues of the land. More threats were made, this time, he warned that Zulus will “leave the country and take KZN with them”

“We must not be provoked. There is no need for the Zulus to be abused by their Treasury, because that will force me – and the world will agree with me – when I declare that I want me and my nation to live on our own and develop on our own, because in South Africa development is selective.”

With threats being thrown back and forth, it seems land expropriation without compensation is going to be a lot more complex than a “black and white” issue.