The months-long feud between Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini and his seven siblings over the multi-million-rand estate of their late mother, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, is raging on, with the siblings now shunning all royal events in protest.
On one side is the king in his capacity as the eldest son and key signatory to the estate, and on the other are his siblings, princes Bambindlovu, Lungelo, Mandlesizwe and Simengaye, as well as princesses Ntandoyesizwe, Nomkhosi and Bukhosibemvelo, who want the estate distributed.
The feud started last year when the king allegedly refused to sign off on the distribution of the funds. Then, in April this year, the King Misuzulu got into a heated, expletive-laden argument with Princess Nomkhosi that was recorded and leaked to the media. The king was heard disparaging his sister by reference to their mother’s genitalia.
Sources believe the disagreement was over property left by their parents.
Princess Bukhosibemvelo told Sunday World this week that they were in pain when, in August, a statement from the royal spokesperson, Prince Thulani Zulu, claimed that there was a ceremony to smoke a peace pipe with the king.
“That was not true; the dispute has not been resolved. Our brother (the king) has not met with us to apologise as requested so that a new chapter can begin. The issue of the estate has not been resolved as well,” she said.
“As you would have noticed, none of us attends royal ceremonies any longer; it is very difficult for us to go there when our brother is treating us very badly,” she added.
The absence of the king’s siblings was noticeable during this year’s reed dance ceremony at the palaces in Nongoma and Ngwavuma and during the King Shaka commemoration day in Stanger last month.
A source said the siblings spend most of their time in their own private residences.
“The divisions are deep; right now, Prince Bambindlovu is in Eswatini for a traditional wedding ceremony (umgcagco); the king will neither be there nor send representatives as expected. It’s only the prince and his brothers and sisters,” a royal source said.
Princess Bukhosibemvelo confirmed that they are in Eswatini for the traditional wedding ceremony of their brother.
The spokesperson for the royal family and the king, Prince Thulani, said the king has called for a reconciliation ceremony next weekend. “Let’s wait for next week and take it from there,” the spokesperson said.
Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu left substantial wealth, a bequest from Tibiyo and Tisuka TakaNgwane, two Eswatini royal companies that provide for late King Sobhuza II’s children, which they are supposed to share equally. This includes millions held by the royalty-controlled Swazi Bank in Eswatini and another fortune in property in South African towns such as Pongola and Durban, according to a will publicly read by Adv Griffiths Madoda Madonsela SC in Nongoma in May 2021.
The queen also had investments with Old Mutual and Sanlam.
However, her eldest son, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini, seems reluctant to follow his mother’s instructions as she lay dying in Johannesburg, which irritates his siblings, who are struggling financially.
