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…

The National Freedom Party (NFP), the kingmaker political party with one seat in the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), says it sees nothing wrong with King Misuzulu’s call to remove “Natal” and leave the province as KwaZulu. The party says Natal is a foreign name and that removing it would do no harm. This was the comment by Zodwa Mtshali, the provincial secretary, in Durban today during a press conference to announce the weekend’s plans to celebrate the life…

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in KwaZulu-Natal has raised concerns after King Misuzulu reportedly said that no further mining activities should be allowed in the province. According to media reports, the Zulu King said that mining companies have left a trail of destruction and that the government should not issue new mining licenses. While COSATU agreed with King’s sentiment on environmental degradation and other challenges linked to mining, it emphasised that the sector employs over 10,000 people…

The Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MK Party) Royal and Traditional Leadership, a structure within the party tasked with tackling traditional leadership matters, says it supports the call to rename the province of KwaZulu-Natal by removing the colonial “Natal” and leaving only KwaZulu. The structure says that the starting point of transformation and historical correction must be the renaming of the Province itself. It added that KwaZulu existed long before colonial borders and names were imposed, and the continued attachment of the…

In an unprecedented move within the Zulu royal family, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has filed for divorce against one of his wives, saying their marriage has broken down. The King has three wives and ascended to the throne in May 2021 amid a tussle with his brother Prince Simakade Zulu.  In papers quietly filed before the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal and seen by African Times, the Zulu monarch detailed the “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.” This is the first time…

Prince Mbonisi Zulu, the nemesis of King Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini who was last week fired by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), is not taking the matter lying down. The senior Zulu prince, a half brother to the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, has unleashed his lawyers on the department to challenge the sacking. In a letter obtained by the African Times, addressed to the department led by MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, Prince Mbonisi’s lawyers denied that…

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in KwaZulu-Natal has fired a senior Zulu royal prince for alleged absenteeism. Prince Mbonisi Zulu was fired through a letter dated 9 December 2024.  He worked as a researcher in the anthropology division tasked with resolving chieftaincy disputes in the province.  “It has been noted that you have failed to report for duty as from the 1st of October 2024 to date. You failed to present yourself for compulsory headcount during…

The first wife of King Misuzulu KaZwelithini of the Zulu nation has broken silence regarding several issues within the royal family and herself.  Queen Ntokozo Mayisela says despite her absence during several royal events, she is still committed to the throne and marriage to the King. “I would like to assure the Zulu nation that I remain fully dedicated to the Zulu throne. My love and passion for this beautiful nation, along with my commitment to building and supporting it,…

Condolences have been pouring in since the announcement of the passing of the long-serving Traditional Prime Minister of the Zulu Nation and Inkosi of the Buthelezi Clan, Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, a parliamentarian and founding leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). Last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa released a statement announcing the veteran politician’s death, sparking a series of condolatory messages from all corners of South Africa. Buthelezi, who had been hospitalized several times in the past month, passed on…