Ingonyama Trust Board takes Minister’s decision for judicial review

Chief executive of the Trust Siyamthanda Vilakazi said Nyhotso’s decision was irrational and nonsensical. On Wednesday evening the Minister released a statement announcing his decision which he said was taken after consultation with the Board and the KZN Premier Thami Ntuli. The decision, according to the Minister, stems from the resignation of four board members in succession from September 2024, last month and last week.

“We will approach the courts for the review of this decision. The Minister is politicising everything. When the first board member resigned in 2024 the Minister had to appoint a new member and align that new member’s term accordingly.

“We respect his letter, but we do not agree with it because the intervention is inconsistent and unlawful,” Vilakazi said on Thursday morning. In a statement later, ITB said the letter through which Nyhotso’s decision was communicated did not mention consultation with the KZN Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, raising questions about whether amaKhosi were engaged beforehand. “The Ingonyama Trust is concerned that, beyond being inconsistent with its legal framework, the decision effectively halts critical processes affecting traditional communities. “Disbursements requested by amaKhosi cannot proceed, and tenure rights applications cannot be finalised.