It was a colourful affair as dignitaries from around the world, as well as South African leaders and people from across the Zulu nation, came to pay homage to AmaZulu King Misuzulu Sinqobile kaZwelithini and watch as President Cyril Ramaphosa bestowed on him his certificate of Kingship.
Misuzulu Sinqobile kaZwelithini is the reigning King of the Zulu nation. While Misuzulu is the third oldest surviving son of King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, he is the first son of King Goodwill Zwelithini’s Great Wife, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini.
King Asante from Ghana was the first African monarch to arrive.
He was one of eight African monarchs who confirmed they would take part in the ceremony. He was draped in a Ghanaian Kente to mark the traditional occasion.
Durban mayor Mxolisi Kaunda decided to honour the event by wearing traditional Zulu attire, plus a shield and fighting stick. Check out some of the clips from the even here.
The 48-year-old is the son of the former monarch, but some royals had maintained that the will of the deceased king was actually forged and that the 48-year-old was not the genuine heir.
King Misuzulu’s Age, Education Qualification
Born on September 23, 1974 in Kwahlabisa. Educated privately at St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg. Studied at Jacksonville University in the US, where he lived for several years He is Married to two wives, with three sons
King Misuzulu’s Royal Dispute
Despite being King Goodwill Zwelithini’s third oldest surviving son, King Misuzulu’s ascension to the throne was not instant. Historically, King Misuzulu’s claim to the throne would have been automatic, but the Zulu Kingdom now considers itself a constitutional monarchy, the leader of which must be appointed.
The King is regarded as a public servant and in order to have the benefits – which include government funding and protection – he must have been recognised by the President in terms of Section 8(3)(a) and (b) of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act.
But despite all the recognition, he still has to preside over a royal family that remains divided over his reign.
This comes as the larger part of his family still does not recognize him as the rightful monarch.
This includes some of his late father’s wives and some of his siblings from the other palaces.
Earlier this year, the King’s uncle Prince Mbonisi Zulu approached the courts in a bid to prevent King Misuzulu’s ascension to the throne but his attempts failed.
Miszulu married to two wives
Miszulu’s first wife
Misuzulu is married to his long-term partner Ntokozo Mayisela with two children. The king wedded his long-time partner Ntokozo Mayisela, a day before his mother’s funeral on 6 May 2021.
Ntokozo – a philanthropist and jazz music student – has two children with the king from Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal,. The couple reportedly met in 2009 at Misuzulu’s sister’s wedding in Durban.
Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s second wife.
The King’s heart was smitten by a Swati banking executive who spent most of her time studying at the University of Stellenbosch, where she obtained her MBA. Prior to that, she obtained a law qualification from Rhodes University.
He went to the kingdom of eSwatini marry Nozizwe Mulela (she is regarded as a commoner), who is currently the managing director of the state-owned eSwatini Bank.
Critics of King Mswati and the government he indirectly appoints via his prime minister calls the bank a “piggy bank for royal family members and their hangers-on.”
Zulu royal sources said the matter of marrying a Swati wife was discussed when King Misuzulu visited eSwatini in August this year to be introduced to King Mswati, who is his uncle as he is the half-brother of his mother, the late Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu.
king misuzulu spokesperson
Prince Thulani Zulu
Zulu Royal Spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu is a Prominent AmaZulu royal Prince who was once accused of stealing cattle belonging to King MisuZulu.
It was alleged that the king confronted Prince Thulani regarding stolen cows at iSandlwana, eMachobeni and eMakhosini palaces.
Mboma Mboma