Latest News & Developments
In a significant development in the ongoing Zulu royal succession dispute, surviving siblings of the late King Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu prepare to reveal the official family tree adding to months of controversy over the rightful heir to the throne.
Prince Mbonisi Zulu expresses fear for his safety after King Misuzulu publicly names him as the enemy of the Ingonyama Trust, igniting a royal conflict.
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi ruffled the feathers of the Zulu royals in the king’s camp when he unveiled a team that included princes known to be detractors of King Misuzulu.
Prince Mbonisi Zulu ordered to return a vehicle, laptop and access card by the end of August.
Judge Norman Davis has granted President Cyril Ramaphosa leave to appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal a December 2023 ruling in which he ordered King Misuzulu kaZwethini's recognition to be declared unlawful and invalid.
“The decision has sparked two debates whose conclusions will have a bearing on how we see institutions of traditional leadership. The first is about the courts and decisions on holders of seats of kingship/queenship,” writes Professor Siphamandla Zondi, director of the Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation.
Reacting to the judgment, the king’s instructing attorney Ross Richards told the Daily News on Monday that the judge did not set aside the May 14, 2021 royal family meeting which means that in terms of the customary law, the king was properly identified as the king of Zulu nation.
Among those who attended the unveiling and naming ceremony was King Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini, the current reigning monarch of the Zulu nation.
Despite the certainty that he will eventually triumph against King Misuzulu, Prince Simakade, who is the first born son of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, warned that he anticipates that this is going to be a long drawn-out legal battle.
On Friday, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal said they had received reports that while both were taken to hospital, fortunately, they are not on the critical care list and are receiving appropriate medical care and attention.
Prince Simphiwe Zulu and Prince Vanana Zulu, both from KwaMinyamanzi Royal House, were rushed to hospital in critical condition after the accident around Springs in Gauteng.
Both advocates Menzi Simelane SC and Thabani Masuku SC told the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that the notion was misplaced, adding that historically Zulu kings have been appointed by family members.
Arguing on behalf of Prince Mbonisi on Wednesday, the last day of the marathon case of the Zulu throne in Pretoria, advocate Thabani Masuku SC (Senior Counsel) told Judge Norman Davis about the pending appeal.
Police officers have been brought into the courtroom and have formed a human wall separating the three royal factions.
Prince Africa shouted Zulu! Zulu! preparing to give updates, Prince Vanana started a war cry song apparently in defiance of Prince Africa, then started moving with amabutho towards Prince Africa.
The case continues on Wednesday, and it will be the last day where all parties will respond to each other, make concluding arguments, and leave everything to Davis to make his ruling.
In what seemed to be an indirect dismissal of both Prince Mbonisi and Prince Simakade’s applications that the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi was not to supposed to play a role in the succession process, Judge Norman Davis described Buthelezi as the custodian of the Zulu culture.
The letter by Prince Simakade is now part of court records in Pretoria and Pietermaritzburg and official royal press statement records.
Responding to the assertion, the king's spokesperson Prince Africa Zulu of the Onkweni Royal Palace, said Prince Simakade was either deliberately misrepresenting Zulu culture or was lacking in knowledge.
The king’s spokesperson says his majesty rejected the two factions’ presentations, which he labelled a waste of time since it would not change anything.
The matter was raised by a couple of attendants who complained when the trial got under way on Monday.
He also told the court that Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi misrepresented his lineage in the royal family by claiming that he is of the royal lineage of King Solomon, whereas he is actually from the lineage of King Dinuzulu.
The case was brought by Prince Simakade, the first-born son of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini who is arguing that he is the rightful heir to the throne and he was robbed of it through manipulation of royal systems to identify a king.
IOL exclusively reported on Friday that Prince Mbonisi Zulu, the half-brother of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, has launched yet another court battle against King Misuzulu.
He alleged that the king had formed 13 private companies in partnership with people like Jacob Mnisi, Edward Ngwenya, Thami Zulu and Mthokozisi Mahlobo and they were illegally siphoning funds from Ingonyama Trust.