ZULU KING’S WEDDING PLANNER OWED E1.6M

MBABANE – A wedding planner for the nuptials of royal couple, King Goodwill Zwelithini and his Swazi bride Umdlunkulu Zola Mafu alleges that he has not been paid for services rendered during the ceremony.

The wedding was held in July this year in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
South African publication, the Star, yesterday reported that the contractor, Sizwe Gwala of Xolisa Sizwe Contractors, was allegedly given part payment of his claim.

According to the Star, Gwala quoted E1.6 million to organise the wedding and received a deposit of E500 000, leaving E1.1 million outstanding.
He had been promised payment in three monthly instalments.
However, Gwala alleged through the Star that when he got to the venue, the initial brief had changed as the guest list had increased and he had to provide more VIP toilets, marquees and décor, ordinary toilets and video feeds.

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He is said to have also upgraded the outdoor sound system and the TV screen, resulting in an inflated cost of E971 000 more than the initial quote.
He is said to have received E450 000 with an agreement that the remaining amount on the second invoice would be paid over a two month period starting at the end of July.

“That was the last time I heard from them,” Gwala is quoted.
Based on his allegations, Gwala is now owed over E1.1 million on the first invoice and more than E500 000 on the second invoice.
“I am aware that this might come as an embarrassment to His Majesty but what recourse does one have? People must know how shabbily small contractors are treated. This type of thing puts you out of business,” the Star quoted Gwala.

It is further reported in the publication that Gwala was called by the royal trust to tender for co-coordinating the wedding in Ulundi.
On July 23, just three days before the event, Gwala received a letter confirming his services from the trust’s acting chief financial officer Bonginkosi Qunta and was asked to set up the facilities a day before the wedding.

“At one time, I drove to their offices in Durban with some of the contractors, but I was told they had left early because of a power outage,” he alleged.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a relative close to the Mafu family and Zulu royal household said he was aware that these were issues of the royal family and they would handle them appropriately.

“On the Swazi side, we don’t know much about the issue but trust that the Zulu Royal household is handling the issues,” he said.

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