Thousands participate in a pro-Israel march in Pretoria on July 25. Photo: SAFI.

A descendant of Shaka kaSenzangakhona — the legendary 19th-century Southern African king more commonly known as Shaka Zulu — has returned from a visit to Israel with a pledge to mobilize solidarity with the Jewish state among his fellow South Africans.

“I landed in Israel during trying times whereby the people of G-d are being persecuted,” said Nkosi Zwelakhe Mthethwa — a Zulu king from the Mthethwa tribe — in remarks carried by this week’s edition of the South African Jewish Report.

“I came to lend my voice of support that as a believer myself, I can’t keep quiet,” the king stated. “I will mobilize Christians all over the world to support, because this place [Israel] is our tangible and intangible heritage site.”

The king was part of a group of distinguished South Africans who visited Israel from August 11-17 on a trip organized by advocacy group South African Friends of Israel (SAFI).

Others on the trip included Sibongile Cele, the deputy chair of the African National Congress (ANC) Women’s League Ward 125 in Johannesburg, who described her trip as “a life changing, inspirational, very emotional experience.”

South Africa’s vocal BDS movement exercises considerable influence within the ruling ANC, and has pressured activists and community workers to boycott the visits to “apartheid” Israel organized by SAFI.

But Zulu king Mthethwa said he did not know any BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) activists and that they did “not employ my thoughts.”

“I understand there are people who have an interest in saying that there is apartheid, but without coming here, they simply feed on the media,” he said. He added that he was grateful to have visited Israel on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the death of King Dingiswayo, the leader of the Paramount Kingdom of the Mthethwas.

Others on the visit included Cornelius Raseobi, the president of the Youth League of the Congress of the People (Cope); Pastor Julius Moloi, the president of Christian Ministers Council of Southern Africa; and a number of apostles, pastors, and influential Christian leaders representing Christian communities throughout South Africa.