King Mswati’s wife Jacob Zuma’s daughter Nomcebo(22) leaves polygamous marriage

A royal delegation from Eswatini has reportedly been sent to Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, to negotiate the return of King Mswati III’s youngest wife, Inkhosikati Nomcebo Zuma (22), after she left the palace citing dissatisfaction with the polygamous marriage. Sources claim she struggled with the king’s absence for extended periods.

Under Eswatini custom, when a wife leaves (known as *kwemuka*), the husband’s family engages her relatives to discuss reconciliation. However, this marriage—first revealed by this publication—was initially kept private until Nomcebo was publicly acknowledged as the king’s *Liphovela* (girlfriend) during last year’s Umhlanga Reed Dance ceremony.

Efforts to contact Nomcebo’s family were unsuccessful. King Mswati’s spokesperson, Percy Simelane, stated he was unaware of her departure and emphasized that his office only handles the monarch’s public affairs, not private matters.

Reports indicate the delegation has faced challenges in Nkandla, with former South African president Jacob Zuma—Nomcebo’s father—reportedly refusing to meet them. Zuma allegedly opposed the marriage initially but relented due to his daughter’s insistence.

King Mswati, who has over 14 wives and 50 children, has not publicly commented on the matter. The situation highlights tensions between modern marital expectations and traditional royal practices in Eswatini’s monarchy.