QUEEN Ntokozo kaMayisela, the first wife of South Africa’s Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, has lost her court case seeking to prevent the monarch from taking a third wife. The Durban High Court dismissed her application on Monday, ruling that she had previously consented to her husband’s polygamous marriage plans.
This development, as reported by the BBC, is the latest twist in the ongoing controversies surrounding King Misuzulu, who has faced mounting scrutiny since ascending to the throne in 2022.
Legal dispute over polygamy
Queen Mayisela married King Misuzulu in 2021 under South African civil law, which does not allow additional marriages unless the union is dissolved or converted into a traditional marriage. The queen argued that her civil marriage remained valid, but the court ruled against her, citing an earlier agreement between the couple to convert their union into a traditional one.
The king has since filed for divorce, claiming the marriage has broken down irretrievably. Despite this, reports have emerged of conflicting statements. A letter purportedly from the king announced the cancellation of the wedding to bride-to-be Nomzamo Myeni, citing circumstances ‘beyond the control of the royal house.’ However, Myeni reportedly stated she was unaware of such a letter and believed the wedding was still on track.
Royal controversies and scandals
This legal battle is one of several controversies that have surrounded King Misuzulu since his coronation. As the Zulu king, his role is largely ceremonial, but his influence is significant, supported by an annual government-funded budget running into millions of dollars.
According to the BBC, King Misuzulu’s decisions have drawn criticism, including his unlawful suspension of the Ingonyama Trust board, which manages communal lands for the Zulu nation. As sole trustee, his actions to dismiss board members were deemed beyond his authority.
The king has also dismissed key aides, including his traditional prime minister, raising concerns among royal observers about instability within the royal house.
Succession challenges
King Misuzulu ascended to the throne after the death of his father, King Goodwill Zwelithini, in 2021. Zwelithini, South Africa’s longest-reigning Zulu monarch, passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic. Misuzulu’s rise was contested, and legal challenges to his recognition as monarch continue.
The latest dispute over the king’s marital plans underscores the tensions within the royal family and the broader challenges facing the Zulu monarchy under his leadership.
