The province administration and royal family initially declared that the ceremony will be held in KwaKhethomthandayo. Last week, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said that the Zulu king-elect would be unable to travel to KwaKhethomthandayo in his capacity as Zulu traditional prime minister. Rather than that, the celebration would be held at the KwaKhangelamankengane palace.
Buthelezi stated that the king chose not to attend because the senior royal family felt it would be inappropriate given the fact that it had been agreed that an error was made in transporting the late king’s body to KwaKhethomthandayo rather than his own palace in KwaKhangelamankengane, and that the error should not be repeated.
Misuzulu is expected to lead his late father’s commemoration on Saturday at KwaKhangelamankengana. File Picture: Khaya Ngwenya/African News Agency (ANA)”/>
Another reason Buthelezi cited in a statement last week was that it would be unreasonable to expect the king to travel to KwaKhethomthandayo after he was publicly insulted by a princess from that palace who, after the Pietermaritzburg High Court declared King Misuzulu to be the undisputed successor, brazenly disputed the fact in a televised interview.
The prince confirmed Wednesday in an interview with the SABC that the king would not attend the KwaKhethomthandayo celebration. Prince Africa Zulu, the king-spokesperson, elect’s told the Daily News on Thursday that the king and other members of the royal family would have their own celebration on Saturday at his KwaKhangelamankengane palace.
He stated that it was expected that once the court recognized king-elect Misuzulu to be the lawful successor, everyone would adhere to the judgment and that he, as the head of the royal family, would sanction all royal family festivities. Additionally, Zulu intimated that the king may attend a supper in Durban commemorating the late monarch’s anniversary.
KwaKhangelamankengane is the residence of the king-elect. The KwaKhethomthandayo faction, which is adamantly opposed to Misuzulu’s probable throne ascension, stated that the commemorative prayer would continue as scheduled last week.
Prince Mbonisi Zulu, who disputed Misuzulu’s appointment alongside the king’s first wife’s daughters, stated that the event would take place in KwaKhethomthandayo. The late king’s first wife, Queen Sibongile Dlamini-Zulu, resides at the palace. She unsuccessfully contested the validity of the late king’s marriages to the other five wives, alleging that she was the only one who was lawfully wedded to the king.
The faction has 14 days to file an appeal. Wednesday is the deadline. Their attorney, advocate Peter Zwane, stated that discussions with his client on an appeal were ongoing. Lennox Mabaso, the KZN government’s spokeswoman, said the government would be led on what to do by the royal family, adding that the government did not wish to discuss royal family concerns in public.
VIDEO: De facto Zulu King, Misuzulu KaZwelithini is currently at Inkosi Albert Luthuli central hospital in Durban where his father, the late King Goodwill Zwelithini passed away last year. Here, he and others will perform some sacred Zulu rituals. @IOL pic.twitter.com/6dPAwj9Rd4
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) March 12, 2022
VIDEO: De facto Zulu King, Misuzulu KaZwelithini is currently at Inkosi Albert Luthuli central hospital in Durban where his father, the late King Goodwill Zwelithini passed away last year. Here, he and others will perform some sacred Zulu rituals.