Nqobile Mazibuko
The Zulu Society was founded in March 2022 by Nozibusiso Gumede.The formation of the Tuks Zulu Society was influenced by the growing number of Zulu students at the University of Pretoria, but also influenced by other prominent cultural societies such as Wits Zulu Cultural Society, UKZN societies, and neighbouring
societies like TUT Zulu society.
“The Tuks Zulu Society was formed as a result of the rising number of Zulu Students at UP, but besides that, this society accommodate[s] every African culture. That is why we have no limitations [on who can] attend our programmes, and our aim is to make sure that students feel at home,” said the society’s secretary, Nkazimulo Madondo.
When the Tuks Zulu Society registered for the first time, it managed to be in category A, which is reserved for societies with more than 300 members. The society usually hosts programmes every Friday, which is referred to as “Ingoma Fridays”. These Friday programmes are progressive and usually have more than 100 members in attendance.
The Tuks Zulu Society has been recognised by other tribes and other members from different cultural societies, including members from TUT. Madondo said, “One can say this society’s aim is not just to represent Zulu culture but to make sure that all African cultures are represented without being tribally motivated.”
The Zulu Society’s current leadership is the first EC to be elected since the society was founded. The society operated outside of the campus due to the limitations of the registration period. The current leadership is composed of nine members.
On the possibility of patriarchal tendencies in the Zulu Society and its management structures, Madondo commented, “This society does not really promote the patriarchy when it comes to our leadership: most portfolios are presided over by members of the society, which are women. Even our chairperson, who recently resigned, was a woman. So, one may see that there is no patriarchy there.”
Another problem arose with the establishment of the Zulu Society Football Club, which most people believed was under the Zulu Society. However, the secretary claimed that the society did not know about any of this and action was taken against the team, which resulted in them changing their name. “As the executive committee, we did not really know anything about this football club, so that is why we came to the decision to demand that they change their name to something else because, as a society, we took it as an insult, and we did not want to affiliate ourselves with football,” said Madondo.