Members of the Ingonyama Trust Board say they remain board members and do not recognise the suspension announced by amaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini in December.
Members of the board held a media briefing in Pietermaritzburg. They also addressed allegations levelled against them by board member Doctor Thandiwe Dlamini at a recent imbizo called by the Zulu Monarch.
Dlamini made allegations of corruption and fraud against the suspended board members.
Deputy chairperson of the board, Advocate Linda Zama, says only the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform has the authority to suspend or dismiss them.
“There is no other person who has authority to appoint this board and fire it, except a sitting minister. So, we are still board members, we are not suspended. That we are not wanted, we concede, but not everybody does not want this board, but legally we are not suspended.”
Zama says they intend to take legal steps against Dlamini.
“Indeed, we do reserve a right, so individuals have been affected to sue the lady, and it will be very easy to sue her. I’m saying this as a lawyer; litigation takes a long time, but we will need to do the right thing.”
