Prince warns public against false Lesotho takeover claims

By Celani Sikhakhane

• Prince Thulani Zulu says the Zulu Kingdom has never agreed to hand over Bergville, Ladysmith, the Drakensberg or any other part of KwaZulu-Natal to Lesotho.

• The false claims caused panic among residents after posts alleged they would soon need passports and visas to travel within South Africa.

Former Zulu royal spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu has dismissed reports claiming that parts of KwaZulu-Natal have been handed over to the Kingdom of Lesotho.

The prince said the claims spreading on social media are false and were created to confuse people and divide the Zulu Kingdom.

The rumours claimed that before he left his position as spokesperson, Prince Thulani announced that King Misuzulu kaZwelithini had agreed to hand over parts of the uThukela District to King Letsie III of Lesotho.

The posts also claimed that Bergville, Ladysmith and parts of the Drakensberg would become part of Lesotho.

Prince Thulani said none of this is true.

“I want to make it clear that I never made such an announcement. These reports are completely false and are intended to mislead the public and divide the Zulu Kingdom,” he said.

He said no land belonging to KwaZulu-Natal has been handed over to Lesotho.

He also stressed that residents of the areas mentioned remain South African citizens living within the borders of KwaZulu-Natal.

The fake reports caused concern in several communities after people were told they would no longer be part of South Africa once the supposed agreement was completed.

Some of the false posts even claimed residents would need passports and visas to travel into South Africa.

Prince Thulani urged the public not to believe or share unverified information circulating on social media.

The rumours come at a time when questions over historical border claims have once again attracted public attention.

The Kingdom of Eswatini has in recent years renewed claims over Ingwavuma in northern KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Mpumalanga, arguing that those areas historically belonged to the Swazi Kingdom before colonial borders were drawn.

The issue dates back decades.

In 1982, the apartheid government proposed transferring Ingwavuma and KaNgwane to Swaziland as part of a political agreement with the late King Sobhuza II.

The plan was strongly opposed by the then KwaZulu Chief Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who warned that removing South African citizens from the country without their consent would lead to conflict.

Buthelezi challenged the proposal in court and won, stopping the land transfer from taking place.

Prince Thulani said the latest rumours involving Lesotho have no connection to any official discussions or decisions by the Zulu Kingdom.

He urged communities not to panic and reminded residents that South Africa’s provincial and international borders can only be changed through constitutional and legal processes.

Pictured above: Former Zulu royal spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu says reports claiming parts of KwaZulu-Natal have been handed over to Lesotho are false.

Image source: X