KING Misuzulu’s official coronation by the president has finally been announced.
This comes shortly after Prince Simakade Zulu took King Misuzulu and President Cyril Ramaphosa to court to challenge the president’s decision to recognise King Misuzulu as the Zulu king. The coronation will be held on 29 October at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, KZN.
This after it was postponed twice.
Traditional prime minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi announced the coronation date on Wednesday.
“On behalf of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, it gives me tremendous pleasure to announce the date for the handing over ceremony of the certificate by the president of the Republic to the king of the Zulu nation. The necessary arrangements are well underway and further details will be provided in due course,” he said.
Prince Simakade rushed to court after the royal house squabble over the use of Enyokeni Royal Palace, where King Misuzulu is set to host the annual Reed Dance Festival on Saturday, at the same palace Prince Simakade was traditionally coronated as Zulu king.
In the court papers filed in the North Gauteng High Court, Prince Simakade also wants the court to interdict Buthelezi from convening any meeting of traditional leaders or any other group to identify a person to assume the position of king.
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Buthelezi said two files of documents have been delivered to his home, alerting him that Prince Simakade has instituted litigation in court in a bid to have himself declared the Zulu king.
“In due course, the documents will be considered by my lawyers and a response will be provided as necessary.
“King Misuzulu has already been declared the undisputed rightful heir and successor to the throne of his late father, King Zwelithini. He was appointed through the late king’s will, which appointed the late king’s great wife as regent, reinforcing what was already well established, that his heir and successor would emanate from the house of the regent.”
Buthelezi said it was clear Prince Simakade has acted illegally by performing a separate ukungena esibayeni ceremony in the dead of night at Enyokeni Royal Palace, and by subsequently declaring himself the Zulu king.
“Moreover, this action at Enyokeni was an act of trespassing, as all royal palaces are under the authority of King Misuzulu,” he said.
