Durban – At least 16 people, including children and women, were injured during the melee that ensued during the 110th Anniversary of King Dinuzulu ka Cetshwayo on Saturday afternoon.
Eleven were treated at KwaCeza Hospital and discharged. A further five were treated at Dumbe Hospital and others were seen by doctors at Itshelejuba Hospital.
A 37-year-old woman was severely beaten and suffered head injuries. She was transferred to Ngwelezane Hospital for specialist care.
Commenting on the violence on Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the King of the Zulu Nation, His Majesty Misuzulu ka Zwelithini, has expressed deep concern at the senseless attacks of innocent members of the community.
The premier said during the event that took place at KwaCeza Sports field in the Zululand District Municipality on Saturday, a crowd that masqueraded as AmaButho went on a rampage and attacked unsuspecting children and women after they appeared to have been rallied up following an incident on stage.
Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said she spoke to the King on the telephone on Saturday and His Majesty expressed his discontent at the attacks on his subjects, most of whom were innocent women and children.
They had come to join thousands of people on the ground and millions on various platforms, to commemorate the bravery of Isilo SasoSuthu.
His Majesty and the Premier joined President Cyril Ramaphosa in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, this act of violence especially against women.
Premier Dube Ncube described the violence as “abhorrent, barbaric, and disrespectful” to His Majesty, the President, and the nation at large.
“We have worked very hard to rid this province of political intolerance and political violence,” said Premier Dube-Ncube.
“We must reject leaders who want to take us back to the pre-2004 era of massacres and violence.
“The event yesterday in KwaCeza was organised by government on behalf of all South Africans.
“For people to attack innocent civilians in such an event, is a frontal attack on the state and a declaration of war on our hard-worn constitutional democracy.
“As such, we call upon the law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned to apprehend these dangerous people whose dastardly deeds can cause instability in our province.”
The event was addressed by His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, President Ramaphosa, the Premier, and other relevant stakeholders.
The premier also added: “This brutal act was a spit on the 30 years of freedom we are celebrating today.
“These innocent people had come to honour the warrior king, a leader who sacrificed everything and suffered untold humiliation as he fought for his people to be free.
“The attackers themselves are free today because of the bravery of King Dinuzulu and many other leaders that Isilo sasOsuthu worked with like Dr. Pixley ka Isaka Seme and Dr. John Langalibalele Dube.”
The premier urged every peace-loving South African to condemn this violence in the strongest possible terms.
She added that such attacks, especially on women, perpetuate gender-based Violence and femicide and the perpetrators should be brought to book.
Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has blamed the ANC KZN chairperson Siboniso Duma for the violence.
“He is single-handedly responsible for fomenting violence,” the IFP alleged in a statement at the weekend.
“The IFP is therefore shocked, but not surprised, that the ANCWL [ANC Womens League] and the ANC have whipped out their familiar propaganda notebook, by using violent slurs to label the IFP.
“Calling our members bloodletting warlords and hoodlums, amongst many other insults hurled at us.
“This comes after individuals, allegedly members of the ANC, were injured at a Government event remembering the late Isilo kaDinuzulu Cetshwayo, at KwaCeza.
