WeeklySA_AdminTHRONE: The Constitutional Court has dismissed Prince Simakade Zulu’s bid to overturn the recognition of the Zulu king, bringing a four-year royal dispute to a decisive close…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana
The Constitutional Court has refused Prince Simakade Zulu and others’ leave to appeal the judgment that affirmed the recognition of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
This effectively ends the fight for the Zulu throne, which started in 2021 following the passing of King Goodwill Zwelithini.
In October 2025, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) had set aside the 2023 judgment by Pretoria High Court by Judge Norman Davis which ruled that President Cyril Ramaphosa erred when he recognised King Misuzulu as the leader of the Zulu nation.
Prince Simakade filed the papers together with Prince Mbonisi (a brother of the late King), saying the SCA judgment handed by Judge Dumisani Zondi, was flawed and should be set aside.
In their papers, they wanted the selection for the throne to be upheld through a proper statutory mechanism. Today, the Constitutional Court rejected Simakade’s application for leave to appeal.
“The highest court found that there were no reasonable prospects of success in Simakade’s application. It refused leave to appeal and ordered that costs must be paid.”
The crowning ceremony – held in Durban and presided over by Ramaphosa and attended by heads of state, dignitaries and thousands, including colourful Zulu warriors and maidens – meant that Misuzulu succeeded his father, who died in February 2021 of Covid-19 complications, after he had been admitted to a Durban hospital.
In his will, read at the fateful meeting that nominated then Prince Misuzulu as next king, Zwelithini stated that his wife and Swazi princess, Queen Mantfombi, would choose his successor.
Queen Mantfombi died less than two months after her husband. She had married Zwelithini in 1977 and her bride price was collected from members of the Zulu nation. In her will, which was also read after her untimely death, she nominated her first-born son, Misuzulu, as the next king nominee, and her choice was supported by leading members of the Zulu royal family, including Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Since then members of the Zulu Royal family have been deeply divided over the succession debate, with some supporting Misuzulu and others favouring his half-brother and the late king’s oldest living son, Simakade, for the position.
AmaZulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa, estimated to total 12 million, predominantly in KwaZulu-Natal. IsiZulu is the home language of nearly 24% of South Africans. Data shows that in 2022, South African taxpayers were paying up to R75-million (over US$4-million) each year to support the king and Zulu royal family members.
The KZN Premier’s office is responsible for the administrative support of the Zulu king, regarding his official roles, duties and functions in terms of the KwaZulu-Natal Traditional Leadership and Governance Act. It also pays his remuneration, subsistence and travel expenses, as well as claims for trips he undertakes. – Fullview
MIRROR Briefs
Dairy sector threat
Clover SA has warned that restrictions placed on the dairy industry by government to curb an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) placed it at serious risk.
The dairy industry maintained that export permits and veterinary attestations were being applied inconsistently across provinces, while South Africa was deferring to importing countries that required local approval first, creating a regulatory deadlock.
This impasse was effectively closing export markets and placing significant strain on the broader dairy value chain.
In a statement, Johann Vorster, Clover’s CEO, emphasised the critical need for coherent FMD eradication strategies across provinces, noting that the inconsistent application of export permits and veterinary attestations was creating major roadblocks for local dairy producers.
“FMD is a national disaster which requires strong eradication measures. However, these are being wrongly conflated with dairy processing standards. This is shutting down exports of products that are scientifically safe for human consumption.”
Vorster said that currently, numerous barriers due to uneven regulations were limiting South African dairy products from penetrating foreign markets effectively.
He highlighted that, despite compliance with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) guidelines, which affirmed that ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) treated dairy could be traded without FMD related certification, local protocols unnecessarily complicated the export process, leading to regulatory deadlock. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
R1bn backpay for workers
City of Tshwane has reached an agreement with municipal unions Samwu and Imatu to implement, on March 1, this year, the 3.5% salary increase their members have been entitled to since 2021.
The backpay would have cost the cash-strapped city R1.5 billion, but has been reduced through negotiations to R1.088 billion. It will be paid to staff in batches, with the final batch being paid in February 2029.
The backpay is in addition to an annual increase of 0.75% above the inflation rate for this year and next year in terms of a five-year wage agreement reached at national bargaining council level for all municipalities.
The agreement concludes the salary dispute that originated when the employer, led by then mayor Cilliers Brink of the DA, applied for exemption from the 2021 wage increase, pleading financial hardship.
At the time, the metro was paying off a huge tax liability to the tune of about R90 million per month and its Eskom bill was in arrears.
Brink’s administration also applied for exemption from the 5.4% wage increase agreed upon for 2023/24, and this was granted in the Labour Court last year.
The 2021 matter was however remitted to the bargaining council, which ruled in October last year that it must be paid. – Fullview
TOLL TARIFFS TO BE INCREASED
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced an adjustment to the toll tariffs effective from 01 March 2026.
“The annual toll tariffs will increase by 3.12%, as published in the Government Gazette of February 5, 2026. This rate is less than last year’s 4.85% adjustment,” the road agency said.
The tariffs are adjusted annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as obtained from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
SANRAL’s General Manager for Communications and Marketing, Vusi Mona, explained that toll revenue was necessary to maintain, operate and improve toll roads, as well as to service debt incurred to implement a toll road project.
“The funds go a long way towards ensuring that SANRAL fulfils its mandate of delivering quality road infrastructure that adds value to the lives of South African citizens.”
Mona said that key economic infrastructure, such as the national road network, was a precondition for providing basic services such as electricity, water, sanitation, telecommunications and public transport and this road network therefore needed to meet industrial, commercial and household needs.
“SANRAL is empathetic to the South African public, considering the current state of the economy. However, it is equally important to introduce the adjustments to ensure that the agency continues to deliver safe and quality roads to the benefit of all road users.” -SAnews.
Mugabe son in custody
The South African Police Services (SAPS) have arrested two suspects for the alleged shooting of an employee at the home of the late former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Speaking to the media outside the premises, police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, confirmed that the two suspects had been taken into custody and have since been charged with attempted murder.
Bellarmine Mugabe, who in his late 20s, is one of the two suspects arrested and was taken into custody. The victim was currently in hospital and in a critical condition, the police spokesperson said.
Initial reports stated that Mugabe had barricaded himself in his room, but Nevhuhulwi confirmed he and his companion were cooperating with authorities.
Police had been at the scene in Hyde Park shortly after the incident searching for the firearm used in the commitment of the crime.
Nevhuhulwi said : “We have our dog unit inside and some of our officers inside searching for the firearm.”
Bellarmine is the youngest son of Robert and his second wife, Grace Mugabe. Robert Mugabe, who died in 2019, led Zimbabwe for 37 years before being forced out of power at the age of 93 in 2017. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
