A legacy of goodwill: farewell to the Zulu king

My apartment in Ra’anana is dominated by beautiful woven baskets, gifts of his majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, the monarch of the Zulu nation, South Africa’s largest ethnic group, whose death was announced last Friday.

King Goodwill has been the constitutional monarch of the Zulu nation since 1968, and was the sole trustee of the Ingonyama Trust Board, safeguarding about 2.8 hectares of KwaZulu-Natal’s rural land on behalf of the Zulu nation.

In the words of President Cyril Ramaphosa, “His majesty will be remembered as a much loved visionary monarch who made an important contribution to cultural identity, national unity, and economic development in KwaZulu-Natal, and through this to the development of our country as a whole.”

To the Jewish community, he was a stalwart friend and an ardent Zionist. A delegation of the South African Zionist Federation was warmly received at his palace in early 2012 as the king’s guests at the Marula and dance ceremonies, where he expressed concern about the scourge of HIV and lack of food security.

A range of programmes initiated by the local Jewish community with the assistance of the Israeli embassy were discussed and welcomed. King Goodwill was touched that amongst his gifts was a JNF (Jewish National Fund) tree certificate that indicated that trees had been planted in his name in the South African Forest in Israel.

He was pleased to accept an invitation to visit Israel. It was the start of many meetings over the years. Some were small, intimate discussions, others part of large fora.

A few weeks later, our delegation, including Ya’acov Finkelstein, the then Israeli deputy ambassador, met the king again at Nongoma, who was in discussion with all his tribal leaders (about 300 people) about a growth plan under the auspices of the Ingonyama Trust.

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize were also present. Proposals for the South African Jewish community to bring medical and environmental expertise were gratefully accepted.

These included the building of a clinic situated at the Africa Centre in Mtubatuba, which is involved in extensive research on HIV/AIDS. It was agreed that the Jewish community would assist with a male-circumcision clinic, with experts to be brought by the Operation Abraham Collaborative of Israel. The Israeli embassy also offered advice on agricultural projects.

The Jewish community with the Dis-Chem Foundation went on to create a Community Wellness Centre at Mtubatuba with Princess Mogay, the king’s daughter, who manages the royal household’s engagement with outreach. In addition, the Victor Daitz Foundation generously developed the medical-circumcision clinic in eMondlo in the Vryheid area.

King Goodwill also eagerly participated in Jewish communal events. He was guest of honour at the Yom Ha’atzmaut ceremony at the Israeli embassy in 2013. In his speech, he praised the ability of the Jewish people to rise above challenges, stipulating that he believed Israel’s history was one filled with paradox and tragedy, but ultimately triumph.

He also expressed the desire to co-operate further with us in the arena of agriculture, and to promote a youth exchange between the two countries.

King Goodwill and his wife, Her Royal Highness Queen Kwalindizulu, were keynote speakers and guests of honour at one of the largest community events in Durban – A Night to Honour Jerusalem. More than 500 attendees, members of the KwaZulu-Natal Jewish community and Christian Zionists, came to the Durban Jewish Centre for this.

“Operation Abraham remains the strongest bond binding KwaZulu-Natal and Israel together for many years to come. When I announced the revival of circumcision, I received support from a team of experts in Jerusalem. They offered to collaborate with me and the department of health to drive the circumcision campaign,” his majesty said. “A few months ago, I was informed that more than 20 000 young men in KwaZulu-Natal had been circumcised without any complications, none had died.”

Over the past decade, one of the most serious issues confronting the Jewish community is the attempt by factions in the South African government to promote the boycott of Israel.

Immediately after the former Deputy Minister of International Relations, Ebrahim Ebrahim, unveiled the policy, Israel’s then ambassador, Dov Segev-Steinberg, stated that the king had accepted an invitation to visit Israel. “He vowed to use his official visit to explore ways to intensify co-operation between South Africa and Israel, especially between the Zulu people and Israeli people,” said Segev-Steinberg.

The ambassador believed that the king’s commitment to visit was “a sign that Israel still has good friends in this country, friends who are happy and willing to share experiences and ensure love and respect for Israel”.

Your majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, you were an honoured and treasured supporter of the South African Jewish community. We salute you, and wish you hamba kahle, baba.

• Professor Antony Arkin is the immediate past-chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Zionist Council and served as the National Treasurer of the South African Zionist Federation for 20 years.