THE self-proclaimed Zulu king, Prince Simakade Zulu, has started a legal battle to dethrone his half-brother, King Misuzulu.
He has filed his court papers where he is challenging the recognition of Misuzulu as the king of the Zulu nation.
Prince Simakade, who is the first son of the late King Zwelithini, wants President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recognition of Misuzulu as king to be declared invalid and unlawful.
He filed his papers at the North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane on Monday, 12 September.
He also wants to interdict Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi from convening any meeting of the Zulu royal house.
This comes as there is another battle for Enyokeni Royal Palace to be used by King Misizulu to host the Reed Dance Festival this weekend.
Prince Simakade is against the move and claims that the palace belongs to him as he was coronated there last month.
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The court papers filed on Prince Simakade’s behalf by his lawyers Hammann-Moosa Incorporated on Monday said: “Take notice that the above named applicant (Prince Simakade) intends to make application to the above honourable court on a date and time to be arranged with the registrar for an order in the following terms.
“Declaring that the identification of the second respondent (King Misuzulu) as Isilo of the Zulu nation by the Seventh Respondent, being the persons attending a meeting on 14 May 2021, convened by the Eight Respondent (Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi), and purporting to be the AmaZulu royal family (“the identification decision”, is unlawful and invalid.
“Reviewing and setting aside the president’s decision and the publication of it in the government gazette. The identification decision, the coronation or recognition ceremony of the second respondent (King Misuzulu) which took place on 28 August 2022 and which purported to formally recognise the second respondent as Isilo”.
The court papers further said Prince Simakade “wants to interdict Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi from convening any meeting of the persons constituting the Seventh Respondent (KZN House of Traditional Leaders) or any other group to identify a person to assume the position of Isilo.
“Directing that the applicant was lawfully identified as Isilo by the Zulu royal family as the meeting held on 5 May 2021, 23 May 2021 and 5 September 2021 referred to the founding affidavit.
“Directing the first respondent (President Cyril Ramaphosa) to recognise the applicant as Isilo, and take the steps set out in section 8(3) of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act No. 3 of 2019, within 30 days of the date of this order,” read the court papers.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recognised Misuzulu as the Zulu king over Prince Simakade.
King Misuzulu was supposed to be given his kingship certificate by Ramaphosa on 24 September at Moses Mabhida Stadium, but the event has been postponed to October.
On the same day, 24 September, King Misuzulu will unveil the statue of King Shaka at the King Shaka International Airport.
