Lack of clear succession planning rips through Zulu Royal family - Scrolla.Africa

Monday 15 March
                                           2021, 0145

Real News. Scrolla.Africa

Lack of clear succession planning rips
through Zulu Royal family
Lungani Zungu

The death of the longest-serving monarch of the Zulu nation
King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu has sparked tensions in
the royal household over who will be his successor.

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a cousin of the family, has
moved to quell the brewing tensions at the royal household.

Speaking outside the late king’s palace in Nongoma northern
KZN on Saturday, Buthelezi said there was nothing amiss with
big families such as the royal house bickering.

The king’s cause of death was also a contentious issue, after
Buthelezi confirmed that he died due to Covid-19, but another
member of the family rejected that.

Buthelezi said 20 doctors, including Health Minister Zweli
Mkhize, tried to save the king’s life at Chief Albert Luthuli
central hospital, but all their efforts failed.

Initially, the family said that the king would lie in state at his
Nongoma palace for people to see his body before being laid to
rest.

This angered Buthelezi.

The family took a U-turn afterwards and said his body would
not be viewed due to Covid-19 regulations.

Without mentioning names, Buthelezi said some in the family
wanted to ignore the government's Covid-19 rules.

He threatened to ditch his responsibilities of communicating
with the nation about the king’s funeral arrangements.

Zwelithini served for 50 years as the king of the Zulu nation.

“I do this work, even under difficult times,’ said Buthelezi.

He also called for the royal household factions to respect the
king until he is buried on a date known by the family.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Buthelezi said.

Buthelezi said he met with the family members of the royal
household to discuss the funeral arrangements but some
opposed the usual practice when a king is buried.

Angry, Buthelezi threatened to ditch the funeral arrangements,
but was begged by Police Minister Bheki Cele and Health
Minister Zweli Mkhize to continue.

This is not the first time the royal household found itself
squabbling after a king had passed on.

When King Zwelithini was installed as a king in 1971, he was
forced to go into hiding after claims that some within his
household wanted to assassinate him.

Prince Thulani Zulu, the spokesperson of the royal household,
said succession would be debated once the king had been
buried.

Like Buthelezi, he also pleaded with his family members to put
off the succession debate until the king is buried.

Prince Zulu said King Zwelithini would be laid to rest in a private
ceremony attended by the family.

Malema to help Mthokozisi Ntumba's
family sue the state
Everson Luhanga

              Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius
              Malema, has assured the widow of Mthokozisi
              Ntumba that his party will hire a team of lawyers
to help her sue the state.

Ntumba was shot and killed by the police in Braamfontein,
Johannesburg on Wednesday 10 March.

A clear video footage shows police coming out on an Inyala and
shooting Ntumba who had just stepped out of a local clinic.

Malema who was accompanied by his secretary-general
Marshall Dlamini and the national spokesperson Vuyani Pambo
said the party would also help the family bury Ntumba.

“We will make sure the post-mortem is conducted properly and
we are going to make sure the government pays for their
senseless killing.

“He might die like a dog in the streets, but we will give him a
dignified funeral."

Juju as he is affectionately known lambasted police minister
Bheki Cele saying his department protects whites and kills black
people.

“He is a minister whose department killed Mthokozisi and the
president who appointed him killed the people in Marikana.

"He is an incompetent minister who doesn’t even know who is
the head of the crime intelligent in his own department. With
the death of Mthokokozisi, Cele must have been fired,” said
Juju.

Juju questioned why no police have been arrested since the
incident happened on 10 March.

Malema said the EFF will be taking an application to the
constitutional court to force police to use other crowd control
measures instead of guns.

“Public policing should not involve guns. Rubber bullets or not,
there should be a way of controlling the public,” said Malema.

A family spokesperson has told Scrolla.Africa that Mthokozisi
was healthy and went for a normal doctor checkup when he
was shot at.

It is unclear until now whether the police used rubber bullets or
live ammunition.

Picture source: @EFFSSOUTHAFRICA

Former Transnet engineer earns more
now selling cow heads
Lungani Zungu

Phila Dubazane’s family were highly unimpressed
when he gave up his well-paying permanent job
at Transnet to sell cow heads.

Today Phila’s family are praising him for being a clever
businessman.

Phila from Melmoth, south of Ulundi, left Transnet in 2019
after working for them for eight years.

“I make more than I ever made. I provide for my wife, three
kids and my siblings,” he said.

He said his father taught them they must make money for
themselves and ignore what other people say.

"I made the right decision. I would rather make a profit of one
cent than to wake up every morning and work for someone
else.”

He said he is not shy to sell cow heads.

His childhood dream was to be in the construction business but
now he has found joy in farming.

“I would never trade anything for what I do now. I’m never
looking back.”

He employs ten people around Durban.

“I want more young people to venture into business instead of
going out to look for jobs.”

He completed a diploma in civil engineering in 2009 at
Mangosuthu University of Technology and then registered for
Btech, which he completed in 2014 at Tshwane University of
Technology.

When asked, he wouldn’t disclose how much money he made,
but said: “Even if I made a profit of R15, I would be happy
because this is my business and a legacy for my children.”

He said young people must fight for their dreams.

“Don’t listen to people who try to discourage you. Fight until
you achieve your dreams,” he said.

LOVED AND LOST: Menzi Ngubane
(1964-2021)
Lwazi Nongaua

                For more than three decades, Menzi Ngubane
                graced South African television screens.

He performed in countless soapies and movies and earned an
impressive collection of awards.

His career took off in 1987 on the network show Kwa Khala
Nyonini where he starred as Cijimbi.

Mzansi will forever remember his brilliance a few years later in
Ubambo Lwami as Mazwi.

Ngubane played in many popular South African TV shows and
movies, including Yizo Yizo, Gold Diggers, Heist, Ashes to Ashes,
Isibaya, How To Steal 2 Million and Country of My Skull starring
Samuel L. Jackson and Juliette Binoche.

Most fans remember him for his 11 year stint as Sibusiso Dlomo
in Generations.

His work has seen him winning Best Actor for his role in
uBambo Lwami at the Avanti Awards.

In 2007, he won Best Actor for his role in Generations and Best
Actor for 7de Laan at the Safta Golden Horn Awards.

Ngubane worked on a mentorship programme called Twelve
Auspicious Gentlemen with Menzi which focuses on mentoring
young boys and addressing the impact caused by social ills
committed in communities.

The Ladysmith born actor had numerous struggles with kidney
failure resulting in him receiving a donated kidney, ensuring he
continued and sustained his acting career.

In a statement Ngubane’s family said he died on Saturday
morning after suffering a stroke.

He is survived by his wife Lerato Sedibe and two daughters Siya
and Ziyanda Ngubane.

Families now free to visit loved ones in
hospital
Elmon Tshikhudo

Thousands of patients in South African hospitals can now
receive up to two visitors a day.

For months now families were unable to visit their loved ones
in hospital because of Covid-19 precautionary measures.

Mashudu Matamela was frustrated by such regulations when
her mother was diagnosed with cancer and hospitalised last
year.

This was a nightmare for the family from Nzhelele in the Louis
Trichardt area.

Matamela says being separated from their sick mother Masindi
Mudiwa when she needed them the most was frustrating.

“She has been in hospital for more than three months now and
at times I felt that I am sort of neglecting her having to care for

her remotely. I am very close to her in such a way that if I was
always next to her she would have healed already," she said.

But all that is now history as the government issued a circular
detailing the eased restrictions on Friday.

According to the circular, visiting hours will be limited to one
hour per day from 12h00-13h00, effective from Friday 12
March 2021 with a maximum of two visitors per day.

Each visitor is allowed 15 minutes with the patient and visitors
must be 18 years or older, except in special circumstances.

The no hospital restriction hit communities very hard at a time
when many relatives were hospitalised due to the coronavirus.

Some even passed on without being seen by relatives.

Matamela said: “We know that this is for our own health but
this has taken such a long time.
Now that the restrictions have been eased we will from time to
time be able to visit her and be able to assess her progress,"
she said

Afrobeats giants star at the Grammys
Arthur Greene

Nigerian afrobeats stars Burna Boy and Wizkid
both won awards at the 2021 Grammys on
Sunday evening, reflecting the genre’s growing
eminence on the global music stage.

Burna Boy won the Best Global Music Album category while
Wizkid won the Best Music Video for his song with Beyoncé;
“Brown Skin Girl” from Lion King: The Gift album.

Burna Boy, the self-titled African Giant, is a nominee for a
second consecutive year, and won with his Twice As Tall album.

The awards are traditionally billed as “music’s biggest night,”
but this year’s ceremony was understated because of the
pandemic.

There was no audience and performers - who included Cardi B
and Taylor Swift - were separated onto five different stages to
maintain social distancing.

Burna Boy, however, didn’t follow suit with the low key
circumstances, when he accepted his award via a remote video
call.

Wearing a sublime white suit and several glittering silver
chains, he said:

“To every African out there, no matter where you are, no
matter what you plan to do, you can achieve it [...] ‘cos you are
a king. Look at me now! Grammy award-winning Burna Boy!”

He then erupts into uproarious celebrations with his family,
who were present with him.

The Grammys described Twice As Tall as "a masterclass in the
vibe and hustle that have made Burna Boy an international
musical force".

"[He] continues to torch limitations, seamlessly blending styles
and genres and fearlessly fuelling the fire heating the melting
pot of pop, Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae and more," it said.

Video source: @ComplexMusic
Picture source: @RecordingAcad

Highway Robbery - American man takes
a BMW for a test drive then robs a bank
to pay for it
Arthur Greene

What’s your dream car, and how far would you
go to get it?

Eric Dion Warren’s is probably a black BMW, seeing as he
robbed a bank to pay for it while he was giving it a test drive.

On 7 June 2019, the American man arrived at a car dealership
in Texas and told the dealer that he would like to buy a BMW.
While payment was being processed, Warren drove the car to a
bank.

He put a paper bag over his head and, armed with a pellet gun,
he walked into the bank. He handed the clerk a note
demanding $10,000 (R150,000).

The note read: “This is a f****** robbery. Play with me and die.
I want $10,000 in 50 and 100 dollar bills now you got 1 minute
or I will kill you.”

After being promptly handed the cash, he hopped back in the
BMW and sped back to the dealership.

Warren - presumably pumped up with adrenaline after pulling
off a bank robbery - reportedly made quite a scene when he
arrived.

He waved around $3,000 and demanded to the dealership staff
that he be allowed to use it as a downpayment on the high-end
car.

Little did he know, however, that the dealership had already
received a call from the police, after Warren’s getaway vehicle
matched a description of one of theirs.

Warren was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after a
short trial. He was arrested in possession of $5,000 (R75,000)
and the pellet gun, and the note he used at the bank was
covered in his fingerprints. This left the court with little doubt
of his guilt.

Picture source: @CBSDFW

Chippa and TTM book their places in
the Nedbank semi-finals
Menzi Magubane

              Chippa United and Tshakhuma Tsha
              Madzivhandila are the first two Premiership
              teams to book their places in the semi-finals of
this season's Nedbank Cup.

Chilli Boys were the first to progress after beating GladAfrica
Championship outfit Richards Bay 2-1 on Saturday at Sisa
Dukashe Stadium in East London.

On Sunday night Tshakhuma followed after winning the
Vhembe derby against Black Leopards in an all DStv
Premiership affair at Thohoyandou Stadium in Limpopo.

Tshakhuma won the match 2-0 to progress to the last four and
left Leopards to focus on saving their Premiership status that is
slowly slipping away from them.

Chippa and Tshakhuma's run in this competition has been
surprising considering that they are not doing well in the
Premiership.

These two are tied in 13th place on the log table with 16 points
but Chippa is ahead on goal difference.

Only four points separate these two from the bottom of the
log.

Before Saturday's match Chippa lost at home to AmaZulu on
Wednesday and that defeat got them closer to the relegation
zone.

Tshakhuma too lost their league encounter on Wednesday as
they were also beaten at home by high flying Golden Arrows.

They remained in 14th place.

Meanwhile on Sunday afternoon, Pretoria Callies became the
only GladAfrica Championship side to make it to this season's
semi-finals.

Callies beat Cape Town All Stars 5-4 on penalties in an all
GladAfrica affair at Danie Craven Stadium in Cape Town.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time with Callies
finishing the game with ten men after the sending off of
defender Oupa Moeketsi in the second half of extra time.

The other quarter-final match remaining is between cup
holders Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates to be played
on 15 April.

The winner there will join Chippa, Tshakhuma and Callies in the
semi-finals.

Legend Aguero looks to the future as
City moves closer to EPL title
Menzi Magubane

Manchester City have moved within touching
distance of their third English Premier League
title in four seasons with a 3-0 drubbing of
Fulham on Saturday.

City need five more wins from their remaining eight games to
secure the title.

The match saw the return to the score sheet of the club's all
time leading goalscorer Sergio Aguero who played 90 minutes
and scored his first goal in over a year.

Aguero has been out injured and also caught the coronavirus.
Saturday was only his fourth start this season.

While the striker was eager to point out that no decisions on his
future have been taken, he could however be playing his last
season for the team with his contract expiring in June.

He may move to Barcelona but he denies this.

"They are all writing Barca, Barca, Barca. Let's hold on a little,
have a look. Stop. We are still with City," said Aguero on his
Twitter page.

He is guaranteed legendary status at the Etihad Stadium after
his title-winning exploits and club-record goals.

He joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011. In his debut season
he netted the most dramatic of final day winners against QPR
to secure City a first Premier League title.

A further three crowns have landed since then, along with five
League Cups and a FA Cup triumph. Aguero has played 382
matches across all competitions and scored 256 goals.

Other EPL results

Everton 1-2 Burnley; Leeds United 0-0 Chelsea; Crystal Palace 1-
0 West Brom; Newcastle United 1-1 Aston Villa.

Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur; Leicester City 5-0 Sheffield
United; Southampton 1-2 Brighton

Picture source: @brfootball

Ashwin’s T20 World Cup dream on
home soil shattered
              Indian cricketer, Ravichandran Ashwin’s dream to
              play in the Twenty20 World Cup on home soil
              later this year may remain just that – a dream.

Skipper Virat Kohli said there was no spot for the record-
breaking spinner in the Indian squad who are currently playing

a five-match T20 series against England because Washington
Sundar had already been performing well for the team in the
same role.

“Washington has been doing really well for us,” said Kohli.

“You can’t have two players playing in one spot unless
Washington has a drastically horrible season.”

Sundar made his test debut against Australia this year and
impressed with the bat during the England series with
unbeaten scores of 85 and 96.

But Ashwin took 13 wickets from 15 games in last year’s Indian
Premier League, dismissing the likes of Kohli and Chris Gayle.

Through his spinning prowess he also helped India to a 3-1
triumph in the recent test series against England.

He hit a century in India’s second test victory at Chennai and
took his 400th test wicket in the third Ahmedabad test, the
fastest to that landmark by any Indian bowler in terms of
matches.

Only three other Indian bowlers have taken more wickets than
Ashwin in test cricket, all of whom have retired.

India is due to host the T20 World Cup between October and
November.

Picture source: @Ashwinravi99