The king praised the apartheid government while criticising black South Africans for ‘failing to build on the successes of the National Party’; instead choosing to destroy infrastructure and negating progress made during those years.

Zwelithini said that under that National Party SA had a strong economy, powerful rand and built a “mighty army.” He did, however, admit that the NP created anti-black laws, but that they had always treated him with respect.

“The economy that we are now burning down. You do not want to build on what you had inherited. You are going to find yourselves on the wrong side of history,” the King told followers at his palace in Nongoma.

BusinessTech reports that the King said that while black South Africans are burning down apartheid-era buildings, the ANC is happy to take up residence in them.

“You don’t want to use them, you say this is apartheid infrastructure. Your leaders are occupying buildings where apartheid laws were made to oppress you. You on the ground are burning everything that you found here,” he said.

The Mercury reports that, even though King Zwelithini benefits directly from government funds – his annual salary is R1.03 million –, it’s not stopped him from voicing his grievances with the ANC-led government.

Cover image: Getty