Media Statement|The Royal Crown Council completely condemns the cowardly physical attack on Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni and the accompanying attempt to unlawfully take his vehicle from him.
This attack constitutes a serious attack on the institution of traditional leaders as a whole and of the rule of law and constitutional democratic order which anchors our governance institutions.
By attacking the Chief in the centre of the town and in front of hundreds of people, the attackers demonstrated a brazen disregard of the law and the people around them. This is a level of impunity and lawlessness that must worry us all.
There can be no justification whatsoever in physically attacking any human being, let alone a Chief. The vehicle the Chief was driving was given to the institution and office of the Chief and the people of Ntabazinduna where the chieftainship is based in terms of the law and it therefore cannot be given and withdrawn as if it is a private gift from some private donor.
Like every person, and especially because he occupies a public office, Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni must never be subjected to harassment, threats and physical attacks for whatever reason one may think justifies it.
His activities while discharging the functions of his office and as a person must not, in anyway, be unlawfully curtailed or inhibited as his effectiveness as a leader of his people relies on his freedom of movement and to speak freely on behalf of his people and of the culture, customs, traditions and practices the constitution obliges him to promote and protect.
All differences of opinion in whatever issues must be resolved peacefully and without any resort to barbaric threats, harassment and intimidation. We must all encourage a culture of open debate of issues and shun violence and threats against opponents.
The state has a constitutional obligation to protect the physical integrity and person of Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni and his property from any potential threats.
We therefore call upon government to urgently launch a thorough and impartial investigation into the attack and prosecute all those involved and to ensure the security and freedom of all chiefs, more especially in this case, of Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni.
We also call on all political parties and state institutions to respect traditional leaders and the people, regardless of the points of view they hold.
On our part as Chiefs we have been engaging relevant state authorities over the attack since yesterday and will continue to do so so as ensure that this attack does not happen again and also to ensure the peaceful resolution of differences on contentious issues.
As Chiefs and the public at large, we will not in anyway tolerate, accept or entertain physical threats, attacks and intimidation of traditional leaders anywhere.