Mkhwanazi warns land dispute could end in bloodshed at imbizo

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has urged members of the Mkhwanazi clan from Mtubutuba, on the province’s north coast, not to take the law into their own hands over a dispute over land.

He was addressing the community at an imbizo attended by police, traditional leaders and government.

This comes amid anger among some locals over an alleged move by AmaZulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini, to appoint businessman Mandla Ncube, as an overseer of a piece of land at Dukuduku which falls under Mkhwanazi tribal land.

#sapsKZN The Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, with the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KZN Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi are currently leading a community imbizo at the KwaNdonyana Sports Field at Dukuduku… pic.twitter.com/S2DOQRtLNn

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) November 16, 2025

The community threatened to shut down the N2 between Durban and Richards Bay. An earlier meeting between the monarch and leaders of the Mkhwanazi clan had deadlocked. Mkhwanazi has appealed for calm.

“I can see a dark cloud covering this area . It could lead to bloodshed if it’s not stopped. When we were here the last time we did warn the clan to sit and speak about their grievances. We did urge people not to partake in violence protests because if the law is broken and there’s bloodshed, you cannot blame police for enforcing the law. If you are not happy with the law or the decisions that have been taken by government or the King, you have to follow the right channels to challenge those decisions,” says Mkhwanazi.

Mkhawanzi also told the community that the police are to investigate the killing of five traditional leaders in the area in cases which are unrelated to the land dispute.

MEC for Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, Thulasizwe Buthelezi has denied allegations that AmaZulu King, Misuzulu KaZwelithini appointed businessman, Ncube as the new Inkosi for the Mkhwanazi clan.

Buthelezi says there are legal processes to be followed.

“We are here to reiterate that the king would never go against the law and appoint someone as chief or an Inkosi when they are not. During the meeting on the 31st of October, the King spoke about this matter very briefly. I was a part of that meeting. I would like to send a stern warning to a person who has been going around calling himself an Inkosi when they are not. That is against the law. It is only government that can officially give recognition,” says Buthelezi.

Meanwhile, Zulu Royal household spokesperson, Prince Thulani Zulu says the king will get a brief from a delegation which attended the imbizo before responding to media enquiries.