The Pietermaritzburg High Court has refused a late application by Queen Sibongile Winifred Zulu to amend her court papers to include the validity of the marriages of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and his other five wives.
The late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu died in March 2021. The late monarch’s first wife, Sibongile Winifred Zulu, is seeking a declaratory order stating she married the late king in terms of civil law and in community of property, which entitles her to half of kaBhekuzulu’s estate. The other five wives were married in terms of customary law, and thus have no standing, she contends.
She launched a legal succession bid Tuesday arguing that she is the monarch’s only legitimate widow as they had a civil marriage, while he wed his five other wives based on traditional rites.
After 50 years on the throne, King Goodwill Zwelithini died in March 2021 at age 72, leaving behind his six wives and 28 children.
In his will, he had named his third wife, Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini, as regent of the more than 11 million Zulus who make up nearly a fifth of South Africa’s population.
But Shiyiwe died suddenly a month after the king, leaving a will designating their 47-year-old son, Misuzulu Zulu to ascend to the throne.
The coronation has yet to take place, and Misuzulu did not attend yesterday’s hearing.
According to Judge Isaac Madondo, the application was late and had no satisfactory reasons. He handed down judgment on the matter.
“The procedure set out in the rules was not followed or honoured, not only to the prejudice of the fifth respondent but to all other people who will be affected by the granting of the relief sought. As a result, the application to amend this is accordingly refused,” Judge Madondo said.