This story has since attracted and sparked public interest and outcry from the Human Rights Commission launching an inquiry, the Queer community in Durban demanding an apology and the Premier of Kwa Zulu Natal calling for evidence.

So what are the facts?

King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu (born 14 July 1948 ) is the reigning king of the Zulu nation under the “Traditional Leadership” clause of South Africa’s republican constitution.

He became king on the death of his father, His Majesty King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, in 1968. HRH Prince Israel Mcwayizeni KaSolomon acted as the regent from 1968 to 1971 while the King took refuge in St. Helena for three years to avoid assassination. After his 21st birthday and his marriage, Zwelithini was installed as the eighth monarch of the Zulus at a traditional ceremony at Nongoma on 3 December 1971, attended by 20,000 people.

Kind Zwelithini was addressing a gathering of people in “Nquthu”, in Northern KwaZulu Natal, during the 133rd commemoration of the Battle of Isandlwana.

Zwelithini is quoted to have told guests in Nquthu that:

".....traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same sex-relationships. There was nothing like that and if you do it, you must know that you are rotten. I don't care how you feel about it. If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same sex is not acceptable...." [1]

Sharing the platform with Zwelithini was our President, Jacob Zuma. Though Mr Zuma failed to directly respond to the statement, this is what he is reported to have said:

"Today, we are faced with different challenges. Challenges of reconciliation and of building a nation that does not discriminate against other people because of their colour or sexual orientation." [2]

On Monday, 23 January 2012, The Human Rights Commission stated that it would inquire whether or not Zwelithini had in fact made homophobic statements by writing to him.

Addressing members of the Royal Household portfolio committee in the Kwa Zulu Natal legislature this morning, Zweli Mkhize, the premier of KwaZulu-Natal, requested evidence of a homophobic statement made by the Zulu king from anyone who could provide it, to produce it.

Mkhize cited that the Kings speech was misinterpreted and that the Zulu King had in fact denounced any/all forms of abuse. He added that the Zulu king had not lashed out at Gays and Lesbians. The Zulu Royal Household also expressed dissatisfaction with the translation of Zwelithini’s speech where his spokesman, Prince Mbonisi Zulu said that Zwelithini had not condemned gay or same sex relations.

At The Inner Circle, we oppose all forms of hate speech and are saddened to see society once again shaken by such reports of hate speech.

With our vision to Transform society into one of inter-connectedness and inclusivity of different faiths and beliefs around gender and sexual diversity, we are appalled at how South Africans from all walks of life, including the media, academia and the judiciary, seem to ignore how hate speech is actually defined in our law.

Hate speech is a complex concept and has no universally accepted definition or understanding. Beyond the prohibition of certain language in international conventions, each society will determine what it considers to be unacceptable language – and where and how it is prohibited, if at all.

In South Africa, our constitutional values, and in particular those of equality and human dignity, will guide such determination.

The starting point, when analysing prohibition of hate speech, is ‘freedom of expression’, which is protected by our Constitution and has been found by our Constitutional Court to be fundamental to our democracy.

However, freedom of expression is not an absolute right – and the Constitution excludes hate speech from constitutional protection.

The Queer community in Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal and demanding an apology from the King and request that he retract the slur and alleged condemnation of same sex relationships.

An extract from the recording of the Kings speech reports a laughing audience as Zwelithini spoke of people who were in fact previously banished from society. Furthermore, he is reported to have said:

“If you are one of the people I am talking about, people who have sex with people of their own sex, a man who sexually harasses another man, a woman who sexually harasses another woman, you are rotten....”[3]