Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is facing significant challenges regarding his planned third marriage following a legal setback from his first wife, Queen Ntokozo kaMayisela. The queen sought a court order to halt the wedding, which was anticipated to take place later this week, but her request was denied. Court documents show that despite a pending divorce application from the king and their civil marriage status, Queen Ntokozo had previously consented to the king's intentions of marrying additional wives.
South African law stipulates that a civil marriage needs to be either annulled or transitioned into a traditional union for men to take further wives. In a recent court ruling, Judge Bongani Mngadi upheld that the queen's prior agreement to the king marrying others precludes her from blocking the upcoming ceremony.
Adding to the intrigue are conflicting accounts regarding the wedding's status. While media outlets reported a letter from the king stating the ceremony was called off "due to reasons beyond the control of the royal house," the bride-to-be, Nomzamo Myeni, claimed she was unaware of any cancellations and believed the wedding would occur as planned. Furthermore, the king, amid a slew of personal and administrative controversies since assuming the throne in 2022, reportedly expressed his determination to marry Myeni regardless of opposition.
Complicating the king's position, he recently faced criticism after unlawfully suspending the board of the Ingonyama Trust, which manages substantial communal land in KwaZulu-Natal. This act, along with the quick dismissal of trusted aides, has generated skepticism around his governance among royal observers.
Misuzulu kaZwelithini's ascent to the Zulu monarchy came sooner than anticipated following the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. As he navigates his reign, the king's authority has come under scrutiny, and a legal challenge questioning his monarch status by the state is ongoing. The future of both his leadership and personal life remains uncertain as South Africa watches closely.
