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IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
New Enyokeni Royal Precinct: A R140 million boost for tourism and job creation
The R140 million Enyokeni Royal Precinct building, which will house 2,000 guests, will be ready for use during this year's reed dance ceremony. The building is just outside Enyokeni Royal Palace. Image: Willem Phungula The construction of the R140 million Enyokeni Royal Precinct for the annual Reed Dance ceremony, which is presided over by the Zulu king, will boost Zululand tourism and create business and job opportunities. This was revealed by KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer and Sports, Arts and Culture MEC Mtomuhle Khawula, who conducted the last inspection of the project on Tuesday before Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli officially handed it over to King Misuzulu kaZwelithini before the Reed Dance ceremony in September. The MECs' oversight visit was part of the Reed Dance preparation, where more than 20,000 virgin maidens present reeds to the king as part of the celebration of keeping themselves pure. MEC Meyer, whose department is responsible for all Public Works projects in the province, said he was happy that the project will be finished on time to host this year's event, adding that the precinct would not only cater for the Reed Dance event but will be a draw card for tourism, which in turn, will create business and job opportunities. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'I hope to see B&Bs coming up in the area because of this iconic building. This will be a major draw card for international tourists who will come and visit eNyokeni Palace because of this building, which is our biggest project ever as the Government of Provincial Unity. We are also glad that this will generate income for the local communities,' said Meyer. Khawula mentioned that his department will save significantly on costs previously spent on marquees and toilets for dignitaries, as the venue will now provide catering and sanitation. The MEC said the venue would not only benefit the Reed Dance event, but also that performing arts and community events will be held there. 'I will meet the king soon to get all calendar events for this year, and I can see more traditional events being redirected to this place,' said Khawula. He added that the Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, will also come before the building is handed over to the king. The dome-design auditorium has a seating capacity of 2,000 people, a stage, changing rooms for artists, and ablution facilities.
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Clash of Cultures: The Controversy Over Virginity Testing in KwaZulu-Natal
KZN Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga (left) and RCL chairperson Thoko Mkwanazi-Xaluva discussed virginity testing in their recent meeting. Image: Supplied A NEW decree on virginity testing is shaping to be an almighty clash between between culture and the Constitution. The opponents will be Zulu culturists who are set to challenge the government's prescription, via the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL), that now prevents virginity testing of young girls in KwaZulu-Natal the practice below age 16. With the annual Reed Dance ceremony months away, a massive and long standing tradition in the province, the new directive has added to the angst of cultural heads. The commission's chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva met Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga last week and directed that the testing of maidens below 16 was illegal and should be stopped. But culturists have dug in their heels and vowed to defy the directive. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Dr Nomagugu Ngobese, the founder of Nombukhubulwane Institute, a cultural body advocating for the preservation of African cultural practice was adamant that the practice will continue and will not be stopped. Ngobese said the practice has helped to reduce sexual violence against children as the organisation conducts tests randomly. She said even perpetrators were scared to rape girl children who were being tested because they realised that testers would become aware that a child had been abused, and that the practice had helped to reduce cases where young girls had been repeatedly raped and could not report this due to fear. 'We will not stop our practice and no one will dictate to us how we raise our kids. We are doing this in the best interest of our kids, the same interest the government claims to uphold. Where is the harm in the practice? A rapist knows no age,' said Ngobese. Furthermore, she accused the government of promoting sexual grooming of children by supplying condoms to schools. She also questioned the government's decision in allowing 12-year-olds to conduct an abortion of a pregnancy if those girls are too young for virginity testing. In the meeting between Mkhwanazi-Xaluva and Shinga, Mkhwanazi-Xaluva raised specific concerns about child protection gaps in religious settings and cultural practices, such as virginity testing. She said unlike schools, where staff were thoroughly vetted and screened, many religious spaces lack such safeguards, thus leaving children vulnerable. Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said her commission's constitutional mandate was to protect and promote the rights of cultural, religious, and linguistic communities while strengthening democracy and called on the provincial government to work together to ensure that children were protected from abuse and exploitation in all environments. 'Legislation clearly states that virginity testing may only be conducted on girls over the age of 16 who have provided informed consent. Test results must remain confidential, and marking girls on their foreheads is illegal," said Mkhwanazi-Xaluva Shinga also acknowledged the growing concern around gender-based violence, religious exploitation, and lack of accountability in certain faith-based institutions. She noted that partnerships such as these were essential for crafting effective, long-term strategies to protect vulnerable communities. 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding the rights of children and promoting their safety, as enshrined in our Constitution,' she concluded. The commission's visit to the province came at time when mass virginity testing is set to start in preparation for the annual Reed Dance ceremony which is presided over by Zulu King Misizulu kaZwelithini. All maidens who attend the ceremony have to be tested before they are allowed to present their reeds to the king. DAILY NEWS
