President Cyril Ramaphosa will appeal a court judgment that nullified his initial decision to formally recognise MisuZulu kaZwelithini as the king of AmaZulu.
Ramaphosa made the announcement on Wednesday after the high court in Pretoria set aside his decision.
“Following a study of the judgment, the president will apply for leave to appeal against the judgment,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
“During the course of these legal processes, His Majesty King MisuZulu remains the identified heir to the throne.”
He said Ramaphosa had in the meantime called for all members of the royal family to continue working for unity of AmaZulu royal household.
“It is vital that all due processes are allowed to reach their natural conclusion without inflaming tensions,” he said.
Customary law practice
Judge Norman Davis ruled on Monday that Ramaphosa had disregarded the customary law practice which allows the royal family to deliberate on the successor.
Davis ordered the president to establish a committee to investigate whether normal customary law procedures were followed when MisuZulu was declared the heir to the throne.
“It is declared that the recognition by first respondent of the second respondent as Isilo [king] of the Zulu nation contained in government gazette no 46057 of 17 March 2022 [the recognition decision] was unlawful and invalid and the recognition decision is hereby set aside,” reads part of the judgment.
His half-brother Prince Simakade kaZwelithini and several senior princes and princesses insist that he is the legitimate heir.
They took the matter to court arguing that Ramaphosa’s decision to award a certificate of recognition to MisuZulu should be overturned.
Meanwhile, MisuZulu spokesperson Prince Africa Zulu said he is studying the judgment.
“His Majesty, together with his legal team and the senior members of the Zulu royal family are still studying the judgment and applying their minds as to the correct cause of action,” said Zulu.
