A judge in South Africa has set aside the president’s recognition of the Zulu king, the latest twist in
a vicious and long-running battle over who is the rightful leader of one of Africa’s most storied monarchies.
The ruling, issued by Judge Norman Davis on Monday, raised the prospect that King Misuzulu, 49, who last year ascended to the throne made famous by the legendary King Shaka Zulu, might have to step down.
The uncertainty is likely to fuel tension within the royal family that oversees South Africa’s largest and most culturally influential traditional kingdom. Since the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini in March 2021 after a 50-year reign, royal family members have lobbed heated accusations at one another, including claims that wills were forged, that rivals were poisoned, that secret meetings were convened and that King Misuzulu was an incestuous playboy.
The drama has captivated a nation home to about 14 million Zulus, whose language is the most widely spoken in South Africa.
Under South African law, the president must give his blessing before any traditional leader is installed — which President Cyril Ramaphosa bestowed on King Misuzulu
in March 2022. But Judge Davis said that Mr. Ramaphosa had not followed the necessary legal requirements to settle the disputes over the rightful heir before recognizing King Misuzulu, including failing to heed the advice of a mediation panel that the president had appointed.
The panel had suggested that Mr. Ramaphosa appoint an interim king and wait until all legal proceedings were completed before recognizing the Zulu nation’s permanent leader, Judge Davis wrote in his decision. Monday’s ruling set aside Mr. Ramaphosa’s recognition and ordered him to convene a panel to investigate the disputes within the royal family.
Mr. Ramaphosa’s spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, said the president’s legal team was studying the judgment and would determine the way forward. Prince Africa Zulu, a spokesman for King Misuzulu, said in a statement that the king and the family were reviewing the decision before determining how to proceed.
The lawyers who argued the case against King Misuzulu expect the president to appeal the ruling.
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