New Zulu king’s secret nuptial
Buthelezi claims he was not aware Misuzulu was married
LEAKED documents from the Department of Home Affairs show that the new King of the Zulu nation, Misuzulu kaZwelithini, has been married since Thursday last week.
The documents show that his marriage was registered on the same day his mother, the late Zulu Queen Regent Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, was buried. Furthermore, the documents stipulate that the king married his long-time sweetheart, Ntokozo Mayisela, 36.
Independent Media understands that around 2009, Mayisela studied towards a diploma in popular jazz and music in Durban.
It is also understood that Mayisela and the new king met in August 2009 during the royal wedding of the king’s sister, Princess Bukhosibemvelo and former Transnet executive Sipho Nyawo.
Royal archives show that Mayisela played music at the wedding.
Asked about the king’s alleged marriage during a press conference in Durban yesterday, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said: “I am not aware that the king is a married man.”
He did not entertain the matter further.
Regarding the many royal disputes that nearly tore the royal house apart in the past few weeks, Buthelezi said they have been resolved.
He highlighted that on Friday the royal court would meet for the final time to iron out any outstanding issues.
Among the issues that Buthelezi said have been resolved is that of Prince Simakade Zulu who on Sunday was touted by some royal family members as the rightful king who has been robbed of his throne.
Buthelezi read a statement from the prince distancing himself from that pledging his loyalty to the new king.
“Perhaps having read the statement by Prince Simakade Zulu, it will be clear now that there is no dispute at present over the throne. While Prince Simakade was posed in the media as a contender to the throne, he, like all of us, welcomes the reign of His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini,” Buthelezi said.
Hitting back at Prince Thokozani Zulu, who last week threw the entire royal court into chaos when he openly challenged the naming of Misuzulu as the next king, Buthelezi said he had no royal standing to challenge such decisions.
“You can see that he has no status you know, he should (not) interrupt what was a meeting of the royal family on such a serious matter, he had no right,” Buthelezi told the press conference after he was asked whether they have attempted to reach out to the prince.
He refused to be drawn into commenting on what happened to the legal challenge which was to be brought by Queen Sibongile Dlamini, the first wife of the late king Goodwill Zwelithini who wanted to inherit 50% of the estate of the king.
She said she married the king in community of property in 1969.
“I would rather not comment,” Buthelezi said when asked about that.
Separately, Princess Ntando and Princess Ntombizosuthu, wanted to lodge a legal challenge arguing that the late king’s will had been altered and some of the signatures in it were not the same. It was not clear whether they would still take the matter to court.
Repeating what he said on Saturday at Kwakhangelamankengane palace in Nongoma, Buthelezi said the king was already on the throne and shortly after the royal meeting billed for Friday, he (king) would go to eSwatini where he spent some time.
ZULU King Misuzulu kaZwelithini would be compelled by culture to become a married man first before he could officially issue royal orders.
This is according to culture and history expert, Jabulani Maphalala.
Unless extraordinary circumstances did not permit it, Zulu culture dictated a king could only be recognised officially once he was married, said Maphalala, a professor emeritus at University of Zululand.
University of KwaZulu-Natal senior lecturer Dr Gugu Mazibuko concurred, saying if a king was not married, it would be difficult for senior married elders to respect his orders.
Mazibuko said the late King Goodwill Zwelithini also swiftly got married so that he could ascend the throne.
In addition, there were customary ceremonies which the king as a male could not practically run. Citing the festival of Isivivane (schooling of young girls on culture and respect), Unomkhubulwane ceremony (maidens praying for rain) and the Reed Dance ceremony (promotion of self-respect), Mazibuko said the king would issue a directive for these events to take place, but would deploy a queen to manage and lead the participants as men were not permitted to get involved.
Using King Shaka ka Senzangakhona and King Cetshwayo kaMpande as reference, Maphalala said these were extraordinary cases where kings were recognised without having tied the knot. The two took to the helm through military force.
It is expected the mourning period for King Misuzulu’s mother, Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini, should be completed in three months’ time. Thereafter a cleansing ceremony will be conducted on the king since he’s lost both parents within a short space of time, Maphalala said, before his coronation.