Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini may be in the midst of personal and political turmoil but he maintained a regal position at the commemoration of the 146th anniversary of the Battle of Isandlwana in Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday.
The monarch was mum on speculation his wedding to queen-to-be Nomzamo Myeni this weekend was off amid pending divorce filed against queen Ntokozo kaMayisela, who lost an urgent interdict to stop the wedding on Monday.
The presence of Myeni, sitting next to the king during the commemoration, was a positive sign for many, despite no official confirmation from the royal family.
The king, after firing traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi — who was present at the event — is also at loggerheads with the Ingonyama Trust board over the control of the body, which oversees millions of hectares of KZN land.
“Today is not a time to talk about some important issues like Ingonyama Trust and Ithala bank liquidation. The time to talk about those issues touching the country will be during the opening of the KZN legislature,” he said.
He said he was being tight-lipped because he was officially in seclusion as part of his cultural duties. He did not announce a successor to Buthelezi, as was widely expected.
The king said the right time to talk about such issues would be after he performed the impepho ceremony — the burning of the log/incense to connect with ancestors, spiritual guides and God.
The uncertainty over the king's wedding was sparked by a letter purportedly signed by the king, where he instructed the director-general in the office of the premier to withdraw with immediate effect all benefits, allowances and security assigned to Queen Nomzamo.
I was with Dr [Nonhlanhla] Mkhize on Tuesday, she did not presented any letter to me
— Thami Ntuli, KZN premier
After that letter, Queen Nomzamo told some media houses that she knew nothing about the withdrawal of her benefits and that her wedding had been cancelled.
Some senior Zulu royal family members, including Zulu regiments commander Prince Vanana Zulu, said as far as they were aware, the wedding was proceeding as planned.
Indications are the much-anticipated wedding will proceed.
The dismissal of Monday’s urgent interdict in the Pietermaritzburg high court to stop the wedding also gave a green light to the nuptials.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday, KZN premier Thami Ntuli said he had not yet seen a letter purportedly signed by the king and sent to the director-general in his office, Nonhlanhla Mkhize.
“I was with Dr Mkhize on Tuesday, she did not presented any letter to me,” said Ntuli, adding the letter may still be on the way.
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