Zulu King Homophobic Spit on South African Constitution | President Jacob Zuma Stands by in Silence

I am calling on President Jacob Zuma to condemn homophobic remarks on Center stage in harsher terms; his feeble attempt at reprimand does not make leadership grade!
By Melanie Nathan – January 23, 2011

Johannesburg – Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini has criticized people who engage in same sex relationships, labelling them as “rotten”, according to a newspaper report on Monday; and did it in the face of the South african President, Jacob Zuma who stood by and said nothing!

He went on to ignorantly claim that “Traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same sex relationships.” Now is he talking about the act of homosexuality or conducting of a relationship; my sense is he does not known the difference…  read on..

“There was nothing like that and if you do it, you must know that you are rotten,” The Times quoted him as saying.

“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.” said the Monarch,  speaking at Nquthu, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, during the 133rd commemoration of the Battle of Isandlwana, which the Zulu regiments won.

However it may come as surprise but what our dear King does not realize and maybe ought to review is his long dead notorious relative Shaka Zulu, the greatest warrior of all time was more than likely gay than Elton or Martina; and he lived some centuries ago, way in the traditional day – of which King  Jolly Good speaks.

Apparently there is indeed some evidence that Shaka Zulu was gay and that he used to “use”  his soldiers for his pleasure.

What the King also does not realize is that homosexuality is proven scientifically to be a natural born orientation and the genes implicated have probably been around since way before Australopithecus.

On Sunday, Zwelithini shared the stage with President Jacob Zuma; Zuma should publicly denounce the remarks and a failure to do so is ahem should we say a little bit unconstitutional!

After I wrote this story above yesterday, a Press release from Lance Weyer, Mr. Gay South Africa was submitted:

This week Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini stated that “Traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same sex-relationships” He must have missed the history books where many historical experts believe that Shaka Zulu is to have encouraged intercrural intercourse among his troops to “create intimacy and loyalty”. (Bring on the Zulu hate mail…)

He went on to say that “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.”

Whether Shaka was gay or not is quite irrelevant. What is actually important here is that what the King said is in clear conflict with our Bill of Rights and Section 9 of the Constitution specifically, regardless of his interpretation of history.

We have to note the devastating effect deeply rooted homophobia by leaders is having on communities. How can someone who is being paid a salary by the South African government (i.e. taxpayers) have such a blatantly unconstitutional view? Violent homophobia is real, and as much as I respect your right to practice and live your Zulu culture, I think it’s about time that we started being as passionate about the dignity and well being of ALL our citizens and refugees seeking shelter.

In a further slap in the face to the constitution, President Jacob Zuma, who shared the stage with Zwelithini, did not directly respond to the king’s remarks. Instead, he said: “Today, we are faced with different challenges – challenges of reconciliation and of building a nation that does not discriminate against other people because of their colour or sexual orientation.” Many will remember that in 2006 Zuma himself came under fierce criticism for the homophobic statements he made at Heritage Day celebrations

The  ANC friendly South African Press is now reporting with the following under the  (in my opinion exaggerated) headline :  “Zuma rebukes king over gay remark”  –  and I hardly call this statement a rebuke: ” According to The Times President Jacob Zuma, who shared the stage with Zwelithini, did not directly respond to the king’s remarks. Instead, he said: “Today, we are faced with different challenges . challenges of reconciliation and of building a nation that does not discriminate against other people because of their colour or sexual orientation.”

Unlike Weyer I believe the heritage and denial of King Shaka’s sexuality is an imperative component, not to slander Zulu people, but to note that tradition and cultural pretense cannot escape the facts and reality of scientific data.  That said I agree an imperative point is the fact that the Zulu King has in fact spat on the constitution in his flagrant disregard for its content and the well being of young LGBTI and all South Africans.

I am calling on President Jacob Zuma to condemn homophobic remarks on Center stage in harsher terms; his feeble attempt at reprimand does not make leadership grade!

UPDATE:

Zulu Royal Family blames comments on reckless translation? Please … give me a break the insult only endures from this submitted explanation….

Durban – The Zulu royal household has criticised what it called a “reckless translation” of King Goodwill Zwelithini’s speech on Sunday.  “At no stage did his majesty condemn gay relations or same sex relations,” Prince Mbonisi Zulu said.

Zulu said the newspaper translated the Zulu monarch’s speech incorrectly. “The main focus of his speech was on the creation of a compassionate society with men protecting the vulnerable members of society, especially the elderly, women, and children.”  Zulu said the king had said that in the past men would go for months in battles to fight the enemy without their wives, and that they did not harass each other sexually. “He said nowadays you even have men who rape other men. The king said this was a clear sign of moral decay and he said he condemned those involved, no matter who they were.”

Melanie Nathan: “So can someone from the Zulu  Royal family kindly provide an English transcript of the actual speech? What a feeble worm around and besides, the comments are still flagrant insult to SA LGBT and the Constitution.”

Note the words harass! Moral decay! Need we say more…

By Melanie Nathan : [email protected]

Picture: Photo Ndumie Funda and Melanie Nathan with Gay Flag at Smuts Monument, 3/2011© all rights reserved