Zulu royal family members under the house of King Mpande are planning to produce their own electricity to assist the rural communities of Eshowe who are suffering from Eskom's load shedding.

The royal family officially received 2.5 million hectares of land under the land restitution process and discovered that their land is rich with minerals, including coal and iron ore. The process to start mining is underway.

Prince Nkosinathi Zulu said that the mining won't disturb communities and they are planning to produce their own electricity.

"Plans are underway to produce our own electricity that will be provided to the communities of Eshowe and Melmoth. We are determined to get a licence that will allow us to sell electricity to other parts of the province," said Nkosinathi.

He said talks with investors are underway to fast-track their plan in order to develop their community. The Zulu royal family of eNtembeni plans to build their own grid as some KwaZulu-Natal farmers have already started to create their own power.

There could be problems ahead. Eskom has taken communities who produced their own electricity to court, but talks are underway with affected parties.

"Actually this will be in honour of our great grandfather Phikankani who played a big role in assisting black people to get accommodation and jobs in Durban during the era of colonialism," Nkosinathi said.

"His role resulted in him being honoured by the City of eThekwini, but he told authorities of the time that instead of honouring him, they must name Durban after his father who was Stheku kaMpande. That is why Durban is now called eThekwini."