Court to decide on Zulu royal family leadership dispute case

The Pietermaritzburg High Court will on Thursday deliver judgment on whether the application to interdict the Ingonyama Trust from paying the legal fees of Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is urgent.

The application was brought by King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s uncle, Prince Mbonisi Zulu.

According to Prince Mbonisi Zulu’s legal representative Nikiwe Nyathi, Ingonyama Trust’s payment of the King’s legal fees amounted to an abuse of public funds.

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Nyathi said that given that the Ingonyama Trust funds were public funds, the court should treat the application as urgent.

Apart from receiving a monthly salary, the Zulu King, who is currently the chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board, also enjoys financial benefits from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government

Following the passing of King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu in 2021, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini was announced as the successor during a Zulu royal family meeting held in Nongoma on May 7 the same year.

However, a section of the Zulu royal family was of the view that customs and traditions were not followed when King Misuzulu was appointed.

In December, the Pretoria High Court ruled that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to recognise King Misuzulu was invalid and unlawful.

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At the time, the Pretoria High Court directed Ramaphosa to establish a committee to investigate the king’s appointment.

However, Ramaphosa resolved to appeal the Pretoria High Court ruling instead of complying with the court’s order to appoint the committee.