3 December 1971
On his return from exile to St Helena, King Goodwill Zwelithini was installed as the eight monarch of the Zulu nation. He took reigns over from Prince Israel Mcwayizeni KaSolomon who acted as regent from 1968 until 1971. The traditional ceremony, which was held at Nongoma, was attended by 20 000 people. The ceremony took place after his 21st birthday and marriage to his first wife. The Minister of Bantu Administration and Development, M.C. de Wet Nel, who attended the ceremony, supported the traditional system of Chieftainship in his speech. The speech was however resented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Zulu Territorial Authority, Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, who construed it as directed against him.
References
Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E. (eds)(1999). Southern African Political History: a chronology of key political events from independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood