South African Court Nullifies Gov’t Decision to Recognize Zulu King

A South African court has ruled that the government’s recognition of King Misuzulu Zulu as the monarch of the Zulu nation was unlawful, potentially triggering a new succession battle.

The Pretoria high court ordered President Cyril Ramaphosa to set up an inquiry to investigate the tumultuous accession of the Zulu king.

Zulu, 49, was named as monarch in 2021 after the death of his father Goodwill Zwelithini. His traditional coronation had to wait 15 months until August 2022, following bitter feuding over the royal succession.

The ruling set aside the presidential recognition of the Zulu king, and he was officially recognized as ruler of the country’s richest and most influential traditional monarchy.

Zwelithini’s eldest son filed an emergency lawsuit claiming he was the rightful heir, while brothers of Zwelithini also claimed the throne for another contender.