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Almost a week after President Cyril Ramaphosa officially recognised Prince Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the rightful heir to the throne as king of the amaZulu people, rumbles of discontent are still sounding across social media platforms.
The president’s pronouncement gives the Zulu royal family the green light to go ahead and crown Prince Misuzulu, breaking the stalemate that surfaced after the death of King Zwelithini.
READ: Ramaphosa recognises Prince Misuzulu as AmaZulu king
After the monarch’s passing, the royal family was torn into two distinct factions: those who supported Prince Misuzulu and those who were backing his brother, Prince Mbonisi.
Prince Mbonisi’s backers went to court challenging the authenticity of what was purported to be King Zwelithini’s signature on a will, in which he declared Prince Misuzulu to be the rightful heir.
Prince Mbonisi’s faction lost the court battle, thus opening the way for Ramaphosa’s pronouncement.
One would have thought that that would end the wrangling – but it did not.
On the March 12 anniversary of King Zwelithini’s death, the divisions within the royal family were even wider.
READ: A divided royal family remembers King Zwelithini
Prince Misizulu’s faction held its commemoration at KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace, while Prince Mbonisi’s faction held theirs at KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace.
Prominent among those who attended the Misuzulu-led ceremony was Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who has been behind the prince through thick and thin.
Prince Mbonisi’s faction last week openly declared that they would challenge the pronouncement of Ramaphosa in court. Not only that – they promised that if Prince Misuzulu was crowned, they would denounce him.
Then there is a clique of royalists who question the very principle of a president presuming to appoint a king. Prominent among these is renowned music produced and academic Dr Sipho Sithole.
In a Facebook post directly responding to the news of Ramaphosa’s pronouncement, Sithole wrote:
Sithole seems to have forgotten that under our dispensation, the president reigns supreme over the various kings.
However, that is a debate for another day.
The romantic in me enjoys the symbolism of a royal figurehead. I am intensely fascinated by all the pomp and ceremony that attend royalty, be it Queen Elizabeth inspecting royal troops or one of the British princes officiating at a ceremony to remember fallen heroes.
READ: What the Zulu kingship judgment tells us about the future of South African customary law
I like it when amaZulu warriors do their thing, stomping the ground and stabbing their air with their spears as they perform for members of the royal family.
It is the kind of stuff that tugs at my heartstrings, harking back to those glorious days when my people enjoyed their independence and took pride in their fashion, their war dances and their music.
READ: Photos | Prince Misuzulu leads his first Isandlwana commemoration
However, that is where my fascination with royalty stops.
The pragmatic republican in me finds it hard to process the fact in the 21st century, we still have kings. I find it difficult to understand why some people are prepared to lay down their lives for the protection and sustenance of a royal family.
Taking into consideration that ours is a republic of a special kind – with the House of Traditional Leaders recognised by our Constitution – I find myself compelled to respect the existence of the institution. But there is a caveat.
I have been fascinated by the way the Royal Bafokeng kingdom has modernised the whole notion of royalty. The king of the Bafokeng has used the platinum riches that can be found in his land not to enrich himself and his inner circle, but to generally improve the lives of his subjects.
READ: DNA test shows ‘heir’ has no claim to Bafokeng throne
He could have pocketed the money, bought himself countless cars and wives, and pulled a finger at the starving masses, just like King Mswati. But he did not.
Even a cursory glance at the Royal Bafokeng scenario shows that the authorities there have provided housing for the needy and, most importantly, millions of rands have been poured into education.
I am not aware of any such developmental initiatives launched by the late King Zwelithini.
READ: King Goodwill Zwelithini: Apartheid’s useful idiot
KwaZulu-Natal remains one of the provinces with the highest shortage of schools. In this day and age, there are children who still have their lessons under trees in that province. Thousands of schools there still do not have waterborne toilets.
Yet King Zwelithini was the highest-paid king in the country, with a budget of R75 million during 2021/22 which came directly from the national fiscus.
If we cannot wish away the existence of the various kingdoms in the country, since – as I have mentioned – they are recognised constitutionally, we can at least make them relevant. We can make them work for the betterment of the populace.
READ: Gallery | Mourners pay last respects to Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini
I sincerely hope that when Prince Misuzulu ascends the throne, will think about his people and how to improve their lot. He has the power to muster the resources to improve the lives of those who call themselves his subjects.
A father takes care of his children; a king must take care of his subjects.
One hopes that once he is king, Misuzulu will create bursaries and scholarships for the indigent youth.
One hopes that he will take seriously the issue of making agriculture work for those under him.
One hopes that his reign will be about development, job creation and wealth creation.
One hopes that his reign will make royalty meaningful in modern-day South Africa.
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