Department to pay funeral costs for maidens

By Khanyisa Tabata
15 September 2009

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture has offered to pay for the funeral costs of two maidens who died in a stampede during a Royal Reed Dance at Nyokeni Palace in KwaNongoma over the weekend.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Arts and Culture, Weziwe Thusi was quoted as saying her department would take the burden of paying for the funeral costs to help the families of those who were involved in a tragedy.

According to reports the department decided to take all the expenses because the maidens were attending the function that was hosted by the department.

Eleven maidens were hurt in the incident; three were seriously injured and rushed to hospital were they are in a critical but stable condition. Mbali and Noxolo died the next day.

Once a year in early September, invited maidens make their way to the King's royal residence, to perform a traditional dance for the Zulu King.

The department said they were still investigating the cause of the incident, but wished all the maidens who sustained injuries a speedy recovery.