JOHANNESBURG - Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has announced a partnership with lobby group AfriForum.

This cooperation aims to promote agriculture and ensure food security in the country.

Both parties are strongly opposed to the expropriation of land without compensation.

The King said he’s strengthening his relationship with Afriforum - all in the name of agriculture and food security for all South Africans.

“The Zulu nation I’m talking about will not exist if we don’t have food. That’s why I say farmers must come closer so that we discuss what we can do when we talk about agriculture and the availability of enough food in the land. That’s why I’m asking AfriForum of the Boers to come and help us, as they’ve introduced themselves to me that they are willing to work with me and my father’s people to uplift agriculture in our land in order to have food. Because when government started talking about the appropriation of land expropriation without compensation, Boers downed tools. There is no food in South Africa.”

With next year’s general elections around the corner and KwaZulu-Natal set to influence the outcome, it would seem the Zulu Monarch is using the land issue to sway the electorate and send a message to the government.

“I sent you in July and said go and pray that all those who are against you and me over the land God must make them to fight by themselves. Even now I’m sending you to go and pray before the elections next year. Anyone who wants to be voted for and elected by us, I’m going to talk now, anyone who wants to be elected by us must come and kneel here and commit that I will never touch your land.”

The King said he is still waiting for a follow-up meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa to finalise their discussion on the land under the control of Ingonyama Trust.