EFF urges King Charles to give back ‘stolen’ Star of Africa diamond

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has reiterated its demand for King Charles III who was officially coronated on Saturday, 6 May, to return the Star of Africa which is set on the British sceptre and Imperial State Crown.

The late and longest reigning British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II owned the largest clear cut diamond in the world known as The Great Star of Africa which was mined on 26 January 1905 in Pretoria in Gauteng, South Africa and was reportedly stolen.

On 26 January, a 3.106-carat diamond was discovered from the Premier Mine. The Great Star of Africa was the largest stone cut from the diamond. The 530 carats gem is approximately worth between $400 million (roughly R 6 947 000 000) and $2 billion (roughly R34 685 200 000).

ALSO READ: Queen Elizabeth II: Will the diamond ‘stolen’ from SA be returned?

HISTORY OF THE GREAT STAR OF AFRICA

According to Africa Archives, the British replaced the name The Great Star of Africa with the name of the owner of the mine Thomas Cullinan.

Other sources claim that the diamond belonged to Cullinan and it was purchased by the Transvaal Government and donated to King Edward VII. That is how Elizabeth inherited it.

Upon receiving the Cullinan I diamond, the British Royal family reportedly cut it into several stones and strategically placed the biggest one—christened the Star of Africa—in the royal sceptre.

ALSO READ: Queen Consort Camilla may not be allowed to wear crown with ‘stolen’ Koh-i-Noor diamond

EFF WEIGHS IN ON KING CHARLES III CORONAGTION

The EFF accused King Charles III of walking in the pompous steps of his predecessors flaunting the Star of Africa at his coronation.

The party said the British monarchy continues to live in the grandeur of African wealth while African children die of starvation.

“Charles III is firm on track of his predecessors as he parades the fruits of their brutal legacy of dehumanisation of millions of people across the world. The attendance of the ANC government at the coronation legitimises the brutality of the British monarchy against the very people it is elected to serve.”

Furthermore, the party said the presence of African leaders at the coronation is an endorsement of further oppression of Africans under the banner of trade.

“There will be no fair trade as long as justice , the return of stolen jewels and repartitions are not pursued by African states,” the party said.

ALSO READ: King Charles III: Who’s attending Saturday’s coronation?

This article was originally published by Nokwanda Ncwane.