Prince Misu Zulu has been confirmed as the new king of the Zulu Nation.
He was confirmed by his mother in her will that was read today following her demise and subsequent burial some days ago.
Born King Misuzulu Zulu kaZwelithini, he is the oldest surviving son of the late Zulu King, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
He was born on 23 September 1974 in Hlabisa, KwaZulu and he succeeded his father following the memorial service of his mother on the 7th May 2021.
Little is known of the prince’s personal life, however, it is on record that he attended high school at St. Charles College, Pietermaritzburg.
He is currently unmarried and has one son with Princess Wezizwe Sigcau of amaMpondo. Some sources claim he has a degree in international studies, while others state he is still pursuing the degree, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Before he confirmed, media reports suggested that a legal dispute was opened against his candidature.
Some court papers had been filed in the Pietermaritzburg High Court and these papers challenged the validity of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini’s will.
This was launched by the late king’s first wife, Sibongile Winifred Dlamini, and the two daughters she had with the king, Princess Ntandoyenkosi and Princess Ntombizosuthu.
They sought to have the king’s will declared invalid and set aside, on the basis of what they claim is a fraudulent signature.
As an interim measure, they also filed a court application seeking to interdict the appointment of a new king or regent, pending the court’s ruling on the validity of the late king’s will.
However, the king’s first wife is not to be confused with the king’s Great Wife, who was actually his third wife, but who held precedence over all other wives as she was from royalty herself, being a member of the Swati Royal Family.
The late king married his first wife in terms of South Africa’s civil marriage laws but married his subsequent wives in terms of Zulu custom only because South African law recognizes polygamous customary marriages but not polygamous civil marriages.
The court challenge revolves around the validity of customary marriages subsequent to the first civil marriage, as well as an allegation that the signature on the late king’s will is forged.
The matter was set down for hearing on 7 May 2021 and after the hearing, Prince Misu Zulu was confirmed.