AmaZulu King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini has become the first monarch in 209 years of Zulu kingship to file for divorce, citing an “irretrievable breakdown” in his marriage to Queen Ntokozo Mayisela. The unexpected move has stirred significant public and cultural debate, with insiders revealing a strained relationship exacerbated by media scrutiny and allegations of infidelity.
The couple’s union, once celebrated during the king’s rise to the throne, has reportedly faced mounting pressures. According to sources close to Queen KaMayisela, the king’s alleged extramarital affairs and their subsequent exposure on social media contributed significantly to the collapse of their marriage.
“This situation took a severe mental toll on her. Although she had grown unhappy in the marriage, divorce was never something she considered lightly,” shared one insider.
Adding to the strain was the king’s controversial decision to marry a third wife, Queen Nomzamo KaMyeni-Zulu, without consulting KaMayisela, the first wife. The queen reportedly learned of the marriage through social media, a revelation she described as deeply distressing.
Court documents filed at the Pietermaritzburg High Court revealed that the couple had not lived together for at least a year and that communication between them was limited to matters concerning their children. The king has agreed to pay R20,000 in rehabilitative maintenance for their two children over the next 12 months.
The turmoil has not only impacted the royal family but also the AmaZulu nation. Cultural expert Professor Musa Xulu described the divorce as a shocking development that challenges traditional Zulu values.
“Marriage in AmaZulu culture is seen as permanent and sacred. This decision by the king disrupts the cultural equilibrium, as an unmarried king is traditionally perceived as weak. He is expected to embody the moral and cultural compass of his people,” Xulu explained.
The public rift was underscored by Queen KaMayisela’s absence from significant royal events in 2023, including the annual reed dance and the king’s milestone 50th birthday celebration. The divorce further complicates the royal house dynamics, as the status of King Misuzulu’s second wife, Nozizwe Mulela from Eswatini, remains uncertain due to her absence from public duties.
Despite the controversy, the royal spokesperson, Prince Simphiwe Zulu, declined to comment on the king’s private life. However, the divorce has cast a spotlight on the challenges of balancing modern realities with the expectations of a centuries-old institution, leaving the AmaZulu royal house at a crossroads.