South Africa: war of succession to the Zulu kingdom
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithin (center) here in September 2019 with party leader Inkatha Mangosuthu Buthelezi (dr), died in March 2021 after fifty years of rule.
His succession gives rise to a conflict within the Zulu royal family.
AFP - RAJESH JANTILAL
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In South Africa, it is not the Iron Throne, but that of the Zulu kingdom that is the object of envy.
Since the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini, last March, one of his widows ensured the regency until the appointment of a future monarch.
But she also died last week, at the age of 65, and will be buried Thursday at dawn, according to tradition.
A death which weakened the unity within the royal clan a little more, and revealed the tensions in broad daylight.
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with our correspondent in Johannesburg,
Claire Bargelès
Discussions are intensifying within the royal palace of Nongoma, in the KwaZulu-Natal region, as the funeral of the Queen Regent, Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, who died at the end of April approaches.
If the royal family had so far offered an image of unity, and consulted in private to determine who will ascend the throne, it is now tearing itself apart in public with press conferences and statements.
In addition, some parties have decided to appeal to the courts ... The first of the six wives of King Zwelithini asks the court to recognize her as the main wife, since she is the only one to be united to the monarch by a civil marriage.
In another complaint, two of his daughters believe that the will left by their father is a forgery, and ask for its suspension.
While the King of the Zulus no longer has executive power today, he retains a great deal of influence over South Africa's largest ethnic group.
Goodwill Zwelithini
, Zulu king since 1971 and who died in March at the age of 72, was South Africa's most influential monarch, a moral authority for 12 million South Africans.
The Minister of Traditional Affairs, who came to pay homage to the late Queen, therefore hopes that peace and stability will quickly be restored within the royal family.
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To read also
: South Africa pays homage to the late king of the Zulus
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