'Legal system at the moment favours King Misuzulu's first wife', says cultural expert
King Misuzulu's first wife, Queen kaMayisela said if the King's planned wedding to another wife goes ahead, he'd be committing bigamy, which is an offence committed when an already married person marries someone else.
The commemoration of the historic Battle of Isandlwana in Nquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on 27 January 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
DURBAN - The intersection between legality and tradition has come to the fore again following the Zulu king’s first wife attempting to prevent him from taking a third spouse.
Queen Ntokozo kaMayisela Zulu has filed an urgent court interdict seeking to stop the upcoming marriage between King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and Nomzamo Myeni.
Queen kaMayisela said if the wedding goes ahead, the king would be committing bigamy, which is an offence committed when an already married person marries someone else.
For over two centuries, Zulu kings have always engaged in polygamy.
However, Queen kaMayisela Zulu seeks to buck that trend.
In her court papers, the queen said she is in a civil marriage with the king and that prevents him from taking another wife.
Cultural expert, Professor Musa Zulu said the issue is complicated.
“The king being married to kaMayisela in a civil marriage, cannot take a second wife, even by customary law. They can, however, have the event, it’s just that it will be impossible to register that marriage without divorcing the first wife, so the legal system at the moment favours kaMayisela.”
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has already served Queen kaMayisela with divorce papers, in return she has filed a notice to defend.