Royal tempers flare as Ramaphosa fights Zulu king ruling
● The branch of the Zulu royal family that opposes King Misuzulu’s occupation of the throne has condemned President Cyril Ramaphosa for his decision to appeal the latest court ruling in the ongoing feud.
Prince Mbonisi, a brother of the late king Goodwill Zwelithini, said the branch of the royal family that he represents was “highly incensed and disgusted” at the president ’ s “regrettable and ill-advised” move to appeal the North Gauteng High Court’s judgment.
Prince Mbonisi’s branch of the family brought the successful application for the court to set aside Ramaphosa ’ s official recognition of King Misuzulu as the rightful king. In its ruling earlier this month, the court also ordered the president to set up a committee to investigate allegations that customary law had been violated in the succession saga.
“Despite the Presidency continuing with frivolous litigation, which is funded at the taxpayers’ expense, pumping all its financial muscle in support of its preferred choice — against Zulu royal customs and practices — we are determined in defence of our ancestral rights as the Zulu monarchy,” Prince Mbonisi told the Sunday Times. “The high court judgment lamented the haste with which the Presidency took decisions on this matter, leading to the comedy of errors that caused an embarrassment not only to the Zulu kingship but to the Presidency and government in its entirety, ” the prince said.
“The competent court of law has given the Presidency [room] to redeem itself; however, the latest actions [the appeal] are a clear testimony that the Presidency is beyond redemption on this matter. To them they have chosen a position and it is a fait accompli.”
The court said Ramaphosa had disregarded the practice under customary law whereby the royal family can deliberate on a successor when the throne falls vacant. King Misuzulu will remain king while the legal process continues to unfold.
Prince Mbonisi described Ramaphosa’s decision to appeal as evidence of bias. “The Presidency has from the onset never been objective, which is tantamount to interference and disrespect of Ubukhosi bukaZulu [the Zulu monarchy]. The highest office in the land has overstepped its mark, it has chosen to pick and choose policy on Zulu royal matters, undermining the role of the royal family. There is no doubt that the Presidency is at the centre of this unnecessary dispute and the embarrassment and the damage it is wreaking on the mighty Zulu kingdom.”
He said that the court ruling affirmed the government ’ s duty to “stay in its lane, in line with the law”.
“In this matter, it is us on the side of the law, culture and customs, against determined government interference led by the Presidency,” the prince said.
He said the Zulu royal family would begin deliberations on the succession “at an appropriate time”.