Prince Simakade goes to court over recognition of King Misuzulu as new AmaZulu monarch

AmaZulu Prince Simakade Zulu has instructed his legal team to go ahead with a court application to seek to review and set aside President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recognition of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the new monarch.

Prince Simakade’s attorney, Johann Hammann, handled a similar review application by VhaVenda princess Masindi Mphephu in 2012, which saw the Supreme Court of Appeal setting aside the coronation of King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana.

Hammann says he believes the meeting on May 14, 2021 – the year in which the new AmaZulu monarch was nominated was irregular.

He says, “There were people present at that meeting who are not members of the royal family. And that meeting, in a nomination meeting, is only supposed to be attended by members of the royal family. And here there was quite a number of people who were not supposed to be there. For example, the chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust, there was also a reverend.”

Support

Last month, a member of the AmaZulu royal family, Prince Bakhe Zulu, expressed his support for King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.

Despite looming court challenges, Prince Bakhe says they never doubted that he was a rightful heir to the throne.

Zulu says although divisions within the royal family had played out in the public, he hopes that they will pass.

“I would like to share that as members of the royal house, we are happy with the President’s decision that King MisuZulu, as we had been behind him and supporting him. We were part of meetings where his name was nominated, we supported it. Another thing, the King in the Zulu nation is not voted in but he is chosen by his father, and King MisuZulu was chosen by his father, although there was a bit of noise challenging him, we know that will soon pass.”

Communities in KwaNongoma react to President Ramaphosa’s recognition of King Misuzulu: