South African human rights body to investigate anti-gay comments by Zulu king
January 26, 2012
Zulu Warrior
South Africa’s Human Rights Commission will investigate homophobic comments made by the Zulu king.
“If it is indeed accurate that His Majesty, the Zulu king, made the utterances as reported, they constitute hate speech [...] and are inflammatory,” said Human Rights Commission spokesman Vincent Moaga.
Speaking at the 133rd anniversary of the 1879 Battle of Isandlwana, the king referred to gay relationships as “rotten.”
The royal family has dismissed reaction of the comments as “mistranslation.”
Prince Mbonisi Zulu issued a statement saying that he was in “shock and dismay” at the South African Times’ report of the king’s speech.
“During the good olden days our forefathers dedicated their lives for the good of the nation,” King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu is allegedly to have said to the audience. “Men would go for months in the battles to fight the enemies without their wives but did not harass each other sexually and there were no cases of rape of women.
“Nowadays you even have men who rape other men. This is a clear sign of moral decay. We condemned those involved – no matter who you are.”
In his statement the prince further disparaged reaction to the king’s speech.
“At no stage did His Majesty condemned gay relations or same sex relations.
“His Majesty pointed out that his forefathers and King Cetshwayo was a celebrated genius who inspired his warriors to fight for a common objective.
“He said there was a rare breed of men who became an embodiment of a strong nation capable of withstanding any challenge.
“He went further stating that these men became the champions of good values. They sacrificed all what they had including their families to protect the nation.
According to other African news sources’ translation, the king said: “Traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same sex-relationships. There was nothing like that and if you do it, you must know that you are rotten.
“I don’t care how you feel about it. If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same sex is not acceptable.”
Image in public domain
