Prince Simakade Zulu, half-brother of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, has rejected the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling confirming Misuzulu as the legitimate AmaZulu monarch.
The SCA overturned a 2023 Pretoria High Court ruling and upheld Misuzulu’s recognition under the Traditional Leadership Act. Simakade’s faction is now consulting legal advisors on possible next steps, while Misuzulu has called for unity, an invitation the faction has declined.
Represented by Prince Thokozani Zulu, Simakade’s faction called the court’s decision “flawed” & challenged the legitimacy of the 2021 royal family meeting that endorsed Misuzulu. They also dispute customary succession practices based on the mother’s royal status & lobola payments.