UPDATE: King Misuzulu KaZwelithini concludes his first public speech after taking the throne by asking God to bless his nation.
King Misuzulu says today critical ritual is even more important that his coronation next month in Durban at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
UPDATE: King Misuzulu KaZwelithini says the way forward is now clear. He pledges to lead his people even during difficult times. He says since he has been the anointed one, he will lead with diligence.
King Misuzulu thanked President Cyril Ramaphosa for recognising him as the official King of the Zulu nation. He says it was an act of courage.
UPDATE: King Misuzulu KaZwelithini says there is a third force in the divisions within the scheme between the church and the Zulu nation and monarch. Bathunyiwe labantu, he said in Zulu.
UPDATE: King Misuzulu KaZwelithini tells the Zulu nation that they should listen to those who are fighting him for the throne, but still completely. He then preached unity in the nation.
UPDATE: King Misuzulu KaZwelithini tells the nation that prayer and the Bible will guide him as he starts leading the nation.
UPDATE: The Zulu King says today is a historic day that came after difficult times and pain experienced by the nation. He says he is prepared to lead the nation.
King Misuzulu says he appreciates the support he got from the royal family, who supported him all the way until he fully ascended to the throne. King Misuzulu KaZwelithini is now addressing the public after completing today's ritual. He expressed great joy that Queen Zola Mafu, the youngest widow of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, was the only one who attended his ceremony. The rest shunned it.
UPDATE: The MC for the day, Mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi takes a veiled swipe at the ANC's discussion document, which has recommended that the Ingonyama Trust should be disbanded.
KZN MEC for economic development and tourism, Sboniso Duma, speaking on behalf of the provincial government, says they will always support the Zulu monarch as it has a very important role. He preaches unity among the people.
UPDATE: King Misuzulu is now receiving messages of support from Ngoni tribes from Malawi and Zambia.
These are the descendants of King Zwangendaba, who left the Zulu Kingdom 200 years ago. They wished him good health as he fully takes the throne.
UPDATE: Prince Hlangabeza tells King Misuzulu that King Mswati said he is lucky that he ascended to the throne when there were still elders like Prince Mangosuthu and Prince Philemon around him.
Prince Hlangabeza Dlamini, the monarch of Eswatini, is now conveying a message from King Mswati. He says the ritual was well organised and he is aware of the war hospitality they got from the Zulu nation.
UPDATE: Prince Philemon of Kwafinqindi is now outlining the history of the Zulu nation.
He says King Misuzulu is the 9th King of the Zulu nation to sit on the throne. He traced the history of the nation back to King Senzangakhona.
UPDATE: King Misuzulu KaZwelithini is now using the skin of the lion he killed on Thursday as a carpet.
Right now, his chair has been placed on it as he has now moved from the kraal to the big marquee where a legion of people has gathered to wish him well.
UPDATE: With King Misuzulu KaZwelithini and the royal family vacated, the sacred kraal is now a stage for Zulu regiments to showcase their traditional dancing skills.
The King is now back at the first sacred house next to the kraal, where he was first taken to before entering the kraal. It is understood that he is being taught by royal elders how to rule accordingly and how to conduct himself.
UPDATE: All the rituals that were concluded by King Misuzulu have now been concluded and he has now moved back to the main house in the palace. Jubilant Zulu regiments are now camped in front of the house.
Popular maskandi artist, Mathandeni Manqele takes the centre as he walks into KwaKhangalemankengane palace to pay homage to King Misuzulu's leading regiments from the Mdletshe clan.
UPDATE: The royal family of eSwatini, through Prince Hlangabeza Dlamini, was sent by King Mswati to King Misuzulu's ritual. They also wished him well as he fully takes over the Zulu throne.
Queen Mother, Mavis Zungu, the last remaining widow of King Cyprian Bhekuzulu, has also wished King Misuzulu well as he settles into the throne. Zungu has always been on the side of the king.
UPDATE: Zulu royal family elders are now publicly announcing King Misuzulu KaZwelithini. Prince Philemon wished the King great wisdom as he leads the Zulu nation.
UPDATE: As he fully takes over the throne, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini is surrounded by senior royal family members and his brothers, Prince Bambindlovu and Simingaye. Also around is Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Video: Sihle Mavuso/IOL
UPDATE: After hours of rituals inside the sacred royal kraal, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has come out fully dressed as King. He is now fully on the throne.
Having undergone all the rituals to be King of the Zulu nation, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini is now to be about to be wrapped with leopard skin by royal family elder, Prince Philemon Zulu.
EXCLUSIVE: King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has finally entered the kraal and was ushered straight to inhlambelo (a sacred corner in the royal kraal) where only he and a few royal elders are allowed to enter.
While no cameras were allowed, IOL can reveal that he was covered with the wet skin of the lion he killed during the royal hunt he led on Thursday evening at Mkuze Falls game reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
As he entered the kraal en route to inhlambelo, the regiments who were singing and chanting traditional songs went dead silent. Among those who escorted him were elders from the Zulu and Swati royal families.
BREAKING NEWS: Zulu Princesses Ntandoyenkosi and Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Duma have lost their bid to interdict King Misuzulu's ritual of entering the sacred royal kraal at KwaKhangalemankengane palace.
Right now, the ritual is going ahead and about 10 000 people have gathered at the palace to witness it.
UPDATE: About 2000 Zulu regiments and members of the public are now inside the sacred royal kraal at KwaKhangalemankengane Palace.
King Misuzulu is currently holed up with elders in one of the most sacred small houses within the palace performing some secret rituals as he fully takes over the Zulu throne.
UPDATE: King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has just arrived at KwaKhangalemankengane palace and he was ushered into one of the sacred houses within the kraal compound.
Video: Sihle Mavuso
#Misuzulu : Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu has joined Zulu regiments at KwaKhangalemankengane Palace in Nongoma to witness King Misuzulu KaZwelithini entering the #sacred #royal kraal.
📷:@ZANewsFlash pic.twitter.com/506vPAkace
UPDATE: Well-wishers are still streaming in at KwaKhangalemankengane Palace in Nongoma for King Misuzulu's ritual of entering the sacred royal kraal.
UPDATE: The royal kraal at KwaKhangalemankengane Palace in Nongoma is a hive of activities as men slaughter cows on the day of King Misuzulu's ritual of ukungena esibayeni. Zulu regiments are still streaming in singing songs like "elethe izwe, owani umbango?"
PICS: Members of the Shembe church are worshipping in front of the main house at KwaKhangalemankengane palace. Right now nothing is happening as hundreds of people are still trying to make their way. @IOL pic.twitter.com/YF94IHBfpf
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) August 20, 2022
UPDATE: King Misuzulu has dispatched a team of lawyers to the Pietermaritzburg High Court to defend the urgent application by Princesses Ntandoyenkosi and Ntombizosuthu who want to stop him from performing the ritual of entering the sacred kraal at KwaKhangalemankengane palace.
Already, thousands of people have gathered for the event.
Full story to follow...
#Misuzulu - It should be noted that the horse has already bolted as King Misuzulu KaZwelithini entered the sacred kraal in the wee hours of this morning with selected royal elders - out of the media glare & public. Right now what is happening at the palace is a formality. @IOL
UPDATE: Initial papers filed by Princesses Ntandoyenkosi and Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Duma to stop King Misuzulu KaZwelithini from performing the ritual of entering the kraal shows that they want it stopped until the SCA has heard their appeal over the will of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini which carries an allegedly forged signature.
They believe the current King is a product of that will.
BREAKING NEWS: Princess Ntandoyenkosi and Princess Ntombizosuthu have filed urgent court papers to stop King Misuzulu's ritual of entering the kraal. This was after they made a failed attempt on Friday night and failed.
PHOTOS: These are the court papers where Princess Ntandoyenkosi & Princess Ntombizosuthu have filed to stop King Misuzulu from performing the entering of the kraal ritual. They want it stopped pending the SCA court case where they are appealing Madondo ruling. @IOL pic.twitter.com/lpFouy1oF5
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) August 20, 2022
BREAKING NEWS: Princess Ntandoyenkosi and Prince Ntombizosuthu have filed urgent court papers to stop King Misuzulu's ritual of entering the kraal. This was after they made a failed attempt last night and failed. @IOL
It's a historic day for the Zulu nation today as King Misuzulu, the successor to the late King Goodwill Zwelithini performs the ritual of entering the sacred royal kraal at KwaKhangalemankengane palace in Nongoma.
This means that he has completed all the rituals for him to fully occupy the throne. What is left now is the formality of coronation which will take place in Durban next month.
A legion of people has started streaming to the palace to take part in the ceremony expected not to draw no less than 10 000 spectators.
PHOTO: From a distance, Zulu regiments could be heard belting traditional songs from KwaKhangelamakengane palace where King Misuzulu's ritual of entering the kraal is taking place. Some motorists are playing Mfazomnyamana's song of "Onke lamadoda abaziwe le KwaZulu". @IOL pic.twitter.com/maZq9GLNYU
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) August 20, 2022
Video: Bongani Mbatha/African News Agency (ANA)
PHOTOS: All roads leading to Nongoma have been secured by the army and the SAPS - all vehicles are searched and recorded. Today's is King Misuzulu's big day as he enters the kraal. @IOL pic.twitter.com/mS2TlXYXDW
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) August 20, 2022
WATCH: Prince Vanana singing "Ayeza AmaZulu". Upon entering the sacred royal kraal at KwaKhangalemankengane palace, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini would have completed all the rituals for him to lead the nation. @IOL pic.twitter.com/IPdGZD28lE
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) August 19, 2022
PHOTOS: Prince Vanana Zulu continues to command Zulu regiments in traditional songs and slogans as they wait for King Misuzulu to emerge from the main house at KwaKhangalemankengane palace and go to the sacred kraal. @IOL pic.twitter.com/DZezXiYHpe
WATCH: King Misuzulu KaZwelithini finally arriving at KwaKhangalemankengane palace to enter the kraal. @IOL pic.twitter.com/F8uoW64FIN
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) August 19, 2022
WATCH: Mangosuthu Buthelezi leads last rehearsal ahead of Zulu King’s ritual of entering kraal
Nongoma – One of the elders within the Zulu royal family has emphasised that it was always known that Misuzulu kaZwelithini would be the next king of the Zulus after his late father, King Goodwill Zwelithini.
Prince Philemon Zulu, of the KwaFihlinqindi royal house, says it has always puzzled him why there is now a dispute about the next king of the Zulu nation, because everybody always knew about this.
The prince said this during a press conference held at KwaKhangelamankengane.
Among those who attended the press conference was Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the monarch’s traditional prime minister, Queen Mother Mavis Zungu, the grandmother of King Misuzulu who is also the last remaining widow of King Cyprian Bhekuzulu.
Read the full story here.
Legal expert says Queen Sibongile’s SCA victory cannot be used to interdict King Misuzulu’s ritual
Nongoma – A Durban-based legal expert says Friday’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling which granted Queen Sibongile Dlamini-Zulu the right to appeal to it poses no threat of interdict against King Misuzulu and his entering the kraal ritual on Saturday.
Mpumlelelo Zikalala, of Zikalala Attorneys, told IOL that the ruling by the SCA had nothing to do with the Zulu throne, but everything to do with the multimillion-rand estate of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini.
“Not at all, these are two separate cases and the ruling has nothing to do with the ritual and the coronation. It is all about the estate,” Zikalala told IOL on Friday.
Read the fulll story here.
Supreme Court of Appeal grants late Zulu King’s wife permission to appeal estate case
Durban - The first wife of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, Queen Sibongile Dlamini-Zulu, has won the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) battle to appeal the Pietermaritzburg High Court judgment, which dismissed her application to have 50% of the estate of the Zulu King set aside for her.
The SCA ruling came just a day before King Misuzulu kaZwelithini performs the ritual of entering the kraal at KwaKhangalemankengane palace, the last rite before he is coronated.
Read the fulll story here