COGTA Minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi drew a sharp line on Tuesday, naming Phakela uMthakathi and Ngizwe Mchunu directly as opportunists who exploit Zulu identity for personal gain.
Buthelezi told reporters that neither man carries any authority to summon conflict or position himself as a representative of the Zulu nation without prior sanction from King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. The minister was unambiguous: invoking the nation’s name without royal blessing constitutes a serious breach of cultural protocol, and anyone doing so acts in reckless self-interest. No charges have been confirmed, but the public rebuke carries significant political weight.
Prime Minister of the Zulu Nation, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, says no one is permitted to call themselves an “ibutho” and mobilise the King’s amabutho at the hostels without his authorisation.
Buthelezi warned that individuals cannot simply emerge and claim to represent the King’s… pic.twitter.com/Z6XMKV7yue
— Inqubeko News Channel (@Inqubeko_news) June 3, 2026
The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs issued a supporting statement, reinforcing that only the monarch’s endorsed voice carries legitimate standing on matters affecting the Zulu people. “The King’s guidance is clear,” COGTA confirmed. “Humility and mutual respect govern how the nation engages every community.” Investigators from the department had not announced further disciplinary steps by publication deadline.
Mchunu, a former radio host turned political agitator, and uMthakathi have each built platforms on Zulu pride narratives, drawing large followings across social media. Tensions around ethnic mobilisation in KwaZulu-Natal have escalated through recent months, with various figures competing for perceived custodianship of Zulu heritage ahead of contested traditional-leadership deliberations.
Outside the briefing room, a middle-aged woman clutching a church bulletin shook her head slowly as journalists read back Buthelezi’s remarks aloud. “Our king never sent those two,” she whispered, adjusting her headwrap. “Everyone with ears knows that.”
What remains unanswered is whether King Misuzulu kaZwelithini will personally distance himself from Mchunu and uMthakathi in a formal royal address — or whether Tuesday’s ministerial statement is the only censure either man will face. The Zulu nation’s millions of ordinary members, scattered across townships from Umlazi to Imbali, deserve clarity on exactly who is authorised to raise a battle cry in their name. Will those two men step back quietly, or will they push harder?
