By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court has struck off the roll the urgent application by Queen Ntokozo Mayisela-Zulu to interdict King Misuzulu KaZwelithini’s wedding.
The matter was heard in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday.
The basis for Queen KaMayisela’s interdict was their civil marriage, which doesn’t permit polygamy.
King Misuzulu was scheduled to marry his third wife Nomzamo Myeni, on January 26. He has already served divorce papers to kaMayisela-Zulu – whom he is in a civil marriage with.
On Sunday morning, 19 January, the Zulu king called off his wedding to his fiancé, Myeni, which was due to take place from Friday, 26 January to Sunday, 28 January. In his statement, he said he had requested the KwaZulu-Natal government to withdraw all security and benefits accorded to her when she became a would-be queen.
It is believed that the king took the decision after learning of Myeni’s previous relationships.
Fullview learnt she has three children from a previous relationship.
This is the latest scandal involving King Misuzulu, his love life and his handling of the Ingonyama Trust since assuming the kingship of the Zulu people in 2022 after a bruising succession battle, still raging on in the courts and in public.
The Queen’s lawyer, Advocate Mandla Luthuli, argued the urgency of the application, telling the court that the Queen had no alternative means to prevent the wedding. He explained that a Royal House meeting scheduled for January 9 to discuss the matter was postponed to February, leaving the Queen uninformed about the wedding’s status.
“The Queen heard about the wedding through rumours and media reports. She was hoping the matter would be addressed at the January 9 meeting, but it was postponed to after the wedding date, “said Luthuli.
Luthuli said that the Queen would suffer irreparable harm should the court not grant the interdict.
King Misuzulu clarified that any wedding invitations were false due to his isolation since December.
In his affidavit, the king explicitly denied intentions of entering into another marriage while still married to KaMayisela.
Judge Sidwell Mngadi dismissed the queen’s urgent matter and ordered her to bear the costs.
The judge highlighted that Queen KaMayisela had previously agreed to transform their civil marriage into a customary one, allowing polygamy.
This implied her consent for King Misuzulu to marry other women.
Judge Mngadi also noted that a process for the king to marry other women was in progress, leaving the events of 24 and 26 January uncertain.
The king had been in cultural isolation for the past few weeks in preparation for his engagement on Umkhosi WokweShwama (Festival of First Fruits), which takes place annually at the Enyokeni Royal Palace in KwaNongoma, and which will take place this Saturday, 25 January.