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Durban - King Goodwill Zwelithini called on Zulu people to defend the province’s natural resources, including rhinos.
A poaching onslaught has claimed 117 rhinos in the province so far this year.
“[You] be the police to defend the rhinos. Be the last line of defence against this scourge of rhino killing. I urge you,” the king told a gathering.
He was addressing the Umkhosi Welembe, a cultural festival held in Durban, yesterday. The event is normally held at Stanger (KwaDukuza), the seat of King Shaka’s throne. This year it was held at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium to mark 45 years of King Zwelithini’s rule and to commemorate the passing of 200 years since the amalgamation of a series of clans into the Zulu nation.
“As I am talking to you, six rhinos have been killed this month alone. The killing of rhinos is ... a shame. This is your treasure, your legacy that you are destroying. Please defend your animals,’’ the king said.
Turning to the ongoing student protests, he said students should not burn their campuses as they were destroying their means of advancing in life. He urged students to honour the nation by acting in a way befitting future leaders.
President Jacob Zuma, who also spoke at the event, called for the reviving of customs based on respect, and he also stressed the preservation of heritage.
