Griffiths Madonsela, legal counsel to the late monarchs of the AmaZulu kingdom, named Prince Misuzulu Zulu, son of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini and Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, as the chosen successor to the Zulu throne on May 7.
News of the selection of the 47-year-old unmarried prince stirred renewed chaos in the royal palace, which had split into two different factions since King Goodwill died. The newly named king was therefore whisked out of the palace as a safety precaution, while the atmosphere remained heightened by tensions.
At the peak of the chaos, the South African Police Service also withdrew VIP security to the palace. According to Independent Online, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the traditional prime minister, said he had no prior knowledge of the move.
“Neither I nor His Majesty the King, nor any other member of the royal family, have been informed of this decision by the government…My understanding from years of public service is that SAPS security is not provided based on status but on the basis of a threat assessment. It seems perfectly clear that His Majesty the King would be placed in a vulnerable position if security were to be withdrawn at this point,” Buthelezi said.
Royal rebels
Among those who attended the reading of the late king’s will were the “royal rebels,” comprising the lake king’s siblings, Prince Mbonisi and Princess Thembi, who have been accused of holding “unauthorized” parallel meetings regarding the successor.
Nevertheless, Bathuzele was quoted as saying in a statement posted on YouTube by SABC News that the duo had pledged their loyalty to the new king.
Buthelezi added that King Misuzulu was already on the throne, having assumed his official duties. Formalities will follow, as Bathezeli has been in talks with Sihle Zikalala, the premier of KwaZulu-Natal, to facilitate the process.
Traditionally, an unmarried prince cannot ascend to the Zulu throne. However, after the sudden death of the Zulu queen regent, whom some feared could have been poisoned, the traditional council was forced to act swiftly.
The council decided to follow the will and appoint Misuzulu to ensure the absence of a leadership vacuum that “could be exploited and used to divide the royal house,” according to royal sources.
As the new king, Misuzulu is expected to receive monthly allowances from the government once his coronation is complete.
The king plays an influential role in how the R70-million ($4.73 million) annual budget allocated by the KwaZulu-Natal government for royal upkeep is utilized.
