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Sihle Sibisi, an activist who fights to end violence against women and children, and the founder of Kwanele Foundation, says she fears for her life after she was intimidated following her relationship with Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
Sibisi laid a case of intimidation at the Douglasdale Police Station in Johannesburg this week, citing that she had been receiving anonymous calls from people threatening to kill her.
Speaking to City Press this week, Sibisi said the Zulu king had made romantic advances towards her for the first time in September last year.
She said she first encountered the king during the annual reed dance at Enyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal. After the dance, she was summoned by the king’s aunt, who informed her that he wanted to see her privately.
Sibisi recalled:
She claims that Misuzulu did not want to discuss issues related to gender-based violence, but instead insisted they take pictures together.
“We took a picture and then the aunt [said]: ‘Involve me in the picture because you can’t take a picture alone with him ... people might start talking and the wife might get pissed off.’”
The king allegedly instructed Sibisi to spend the night with him at the palace but she refused.
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She said the pictures stirred up controversy within the royal house, as relatives thought they would upset Queen Ntokozo Mayisela-Zulu.
Sibisi says her next encounter with the king was when he invited her to a business breakfast in Richards Bay the same month.
“Before I left, he asked to see me in private with 3 Seconds [the king’s traditional healer]. He said he needed me in his life because he needed a strong woman like me … When I had to leave, he begged me not to go … and the next thing he invited me to his room. When I got there, he was with his son…”
Sibisi says she again declined the king’s advances during their second meeting.
When they met again, he allegedly asked her to go to a fertility clinic.
When she returned to Johannesburg, Misuzulu is said to have tried to stay in constant contact.
“He was begging me not to take the morning-after pill [a type of emergency birth control]. He phoned me crying and was like: ‘I can’t live without you; you have to come to Ulundi.’
“I said why must I come to Ulundi and he said, ‘I need to spend time with you’.”
Sibisi then drove to KwaZulu-Natal to spend time with the king, as she was able to work remotely.
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She says that, while she was at the palace, she was housed in separate lodgings so that she would not encounter the queen.
In one of the many audio recordings shared with City Press, a man who is said to be Misuzulu can be heard confessing his love for Sibisi.
“I love you and I love my nation…” he says.
City Press is in possession of various recordings in which Sibisi has lengthy conversations with the king, as well as pictures of intimate moments between the two. In some, she is seen engaging with the king and members of the royal family.
In one audio clip, Misuzulu complains about his wife. He says: “She doesn’t act like a queen and I need to find another one [wife].”
In another, he relates a premonition about his children and how his dream of seeing them in trouble in water saved them from going on a boat trip when Durban was hit by freak waves that killed three people in December.
Sibisi says their relationship took a turn when the royal house released a statement in December referring to her as an intruder who was trying to curry favour using her proximity to the king.
She says the king failed to defend her when she asked him to.
Their relationship turned sour and she started receiving the cold shoulder from the king, as well as intimidating calls from individuals she believes are from the royal house.
The intimidation allegedly escalated when an audio recording alleged to be of Misuzulu in a rant about Sibisi went viral on TikTok this week. In the recording, the king is heard threatening Sibisi and her brother.
Sibisi’s brother refers to Misuzulu as his brother-in-law and asks to speak about his sister. Misuzulu then says: “What do you want to talk to me about regarding Sihle, sbari [brother in-law]? Who do you want to see? That is not going to happen.”
The brother tells Misuzulu that there is a threat that the saga might be leaked to the press, to which the king responds: “Take that story to the papers, I don’t care. They can even arrest me. That is what you guys do, right?”
Sibisi interjects, saying: “Ndabezitha [Misuzulu’s clan name], please calm down. I am with my big brother, who is talking to you.”
Misuzulu responds by saying: “Give your brother the phone. What do you want to say to me? I will beat you up. You don’t know me. I will beat you up. Who are you and what are you trying to do?”
The call is cut short when Misuzulu hands the phone over to another man.
A royal family member who confirmed the relationship told City Press that the recording was being listened to by members of the royal family.
“We tried on numerous occasions to warn everyone about putting Misuzulu on the throne, now we are all being humiliated. There is a lot more happening behind the scenes; we don’t even know where to start,” the source said.
The family member said the royal house had arranged a prayer meeting for Misuzulu last week, but he did not pitch.
They also alleged that the queen had vacated the royal house because she could not bear the shame and embarrassment brought about by the affair.
“She is not in the royal house as we speak. She has left him and her matter has not been addressed officially.”
READ: Ramaphosa recognises Prince Misuzulu as AmaZulu king
Last month, a faction of the Zulu royal family that recognises Prince Simakade Zulu as the rightful heir to the throne announced that it was forging ahead with a court battle to set aside the recognition of Misuzulu as monarch.
The trial for Simakade’s court application has been set down for May 31 to June 2 in the Pretoria High Court.
Thami Zulu, a spokesperson for the royal house, told City Press yesterday that he did not comment on the private affairs of the king.
“I am not at liberty to speak about any woman who is in the king’s life. Those are his private matters. I am not even aware of the relationship you are referring to,” he said.
But a source close to Sibisi confirmed to City Press that she was in a relationship with Misuzulu and she had hosted his uncles at her home in Bryanston, Johannesburg.
Mayisela-Zulu could not be reached for comment.
