A succession battle for the throne of South Africa’s Zulu nation has reignited after a court ruled the president had unlawfully recognised the new king.

Misuzulu kaZwelithini was crowned king of the country’s richest and most powerful monarchy last year following an acrimonious legal battle with relatives.

At his coronation in front of thousands of leopard skin-clad warriors, he was recognised by Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, and handed an official certificate which his supporters hoped would settle the tussle for the crown.

But a Pretoria high court has now ruled Mr Ramaphosa did not follow the proper procedures and should have first investigated family objections to the choice of new king.

Judge Norman Davis said the presidential recognition of the new king “was unlawful and invalid and the recognition decision is hereby set aside”.

Mr Ramaphosa was ordered to appoint a committee to investigate the disputes.

A family affair

The judge stressed his ruling was not meant to determine whether the king was the rightful heir, only whether government processes had been followed to grant recognition. Last year, a separate Pietermaritzburg court ruled King Misuzulu was the rightful monarch and the judge said that still stood.

However, supporters of the king’s rival, his brother Prince Simakade, quickly claimed the latest ruling was a victory in their struggle for the throne.

The new judgment is expected to trigger further legal challenges, including appeals, extending the rancour and deepening divisions in the royal household.

Prof Musa Xulu, a political and social commentator, said ultimately the Zulu royal family would have to get together to decide who was the proper king.

He told the Daily Maverick: “I have always pointed out that it looks like certain houses of the Zulu royal household were excluded from the nomination process that nominated Prince Misuzulu to the throne. So that is going to be a subject of investigation now.”

Mpumelelo Zikalala, a legal expert, told SABC News that he expected either Mr Ramaphosa or King Misuzulu would appeal against the high court ruling.

“Technically, King Misuzulu is still sitting on the throne,” he said.

The late monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, left six wives and at least 28 children when he died in 2021.

The new monarch is the first son of Mr Zwelithini’s third wife, who was designated as regent in his will. She died soon after the king, leaving a will naming King Misuzulu as the successor, which was challenged by other family members.

Queen Sibongile Dlamini, the late king’s first wife, backed her son Prince Simakade as the rightful heir. Some of the late king’s brothers also put forward a third prince as their candidate.

The Zulu king has no legislative power, but holds a high-profile symbolic role as the custodian of traditions and customs for more than 12 million Zulus. Many also look up to the king as a moral authority.

The royal household is estimated to control about 30 per cent of the land in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province through the Ingonyama Trust.

It also receives a hefty annual subsidy of more than £3 million from the provincial government for the upkeep of the royal households, and for cultural activities.

Zulu kings are descendants of King Shaka, the 19th-century leader still revered for having united a large swathe of the country as the Zulu nation, which fought bloody battles against the British.