A dramatic incident unfolded at the unveiling of a new statue of King Shaka at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, as a woman believed to be a guest rushed the stage where President Cyril Ramaphosa and King Misuzulu kaZwelithini were seated.
The woman disembarked from a shuttle transporting guests to the ceremony held at a nearby sports field. Witnesses reported that she made her way to the front of the stage, climbed the stairs, and attempted to approach both President Ramaphosa and King Misuzulu before two police officers intervened.
The event marked the unveiling of a new 12-meter statue of King Shaka, replacing a previous artwork that had been criticized for its depiction of the AmaZulu monarch, which some felt resembled a “herdboy.” The new statue was meant to be a more fitting tribute to the revered Zulu king.
Eyewitnesses described the woman as barefoot, dressed in a long cream gown, and wearing sunglasses. She appeared agitated and was demanding to speak with the Zulu king. Despite the efforts of the police officers, she resisted arrest, hitting two of them as she struggled out of their grip. Members of the VIP protection unit eventually intervened, and she was forcibly escorted off the stage.
The woman’s exact intentions remain unclear, and it has not been established whether her target was President Ramaphosa, King Misuzulu, or both.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident, and the identity of the woman has not been disclosed.