The Constitutional Court (Concourt) has refused to grant Prince Simakade leave to appeal the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling that effectively recognized King Misuzulu KaZwelithini as the rightful King of the Zulu nation.

This effectively ends the fight for the Zulu throne, which started in 2021 following the passing of King Goodwill Zwelithini.

The apex court said the appeal had no prospects of sucess, hence it turned it down without a hearing.

Prince Simakade initially won at the Pretoria High Court when Judge Norman Davies found that the process to identify King Misuzulu KaZwelithini as the next Zulu King was flawed.

Davies also set aside the recognition of the King by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In a fight back, Ramaphosa and the King took the matter to the SCA with the help of Advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi where they successfully argued that Davies erred in his ruling as the matter was res judicata (it has already been ruled upon by another court).

They cited the ruling of Judge Isaac Madondo which found that even if Prince Simakade had to be nominated, he does not meet the criteria to run for the throne. They also cited the 2021 letter by Prince Simakade where he said he was not interested in the throne.

The SCA concured and ruled in their favour and gave the King a reprieve.