Durban - About R4million has been reallocated to the Royal Household Trust for the refurbishment of King Goodwill Zwelithini’s palaces.

This emerged at a meeting of the Finance Portfolio Committee and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) on Tuesday. The funds were transferred from Cogta to the Royal Household Trust. The money was transferred via the Premier’s Office, which oversees the trust.

DA MPL Francois Rodgers said the money was for infrastructure at the king’s palaces.

“During the hearing, the DA raised its concern around the issue. Questions posed to the departments did not receive a suitable response. The DA further established that there was neither a memorandum of understanding nor a service level agreement between the two departments as to the intended purpose of the R4m,” said Rodgers.

The chairperson of the finance portfolio committee, Sipho Nkosi, said Cogta found that the king’s palaces were not in a good condition.