AmaZulu Queen Ntokozo kaMayisela has approached the court to block her husband, King Misuzulu, from marrying another woman, arguing that such a union would be unlawful under South African law.
The application, submitted to the high court on Friday, follows reports that King Misuzulu intends to marry his third wife, Queen Nomzamo Myeni, later this month.
According to TimesLIVE, the king is set to perform umkhehlo, a traditional ceremony where the families exchange vows, at Queen Myeni’s home in Jozini on January 24, followed by a traditional wedding ceremony led by the Nazareth Baptist Church two days later.
Prince Simphiwe Zulu, the king’s spokesperson, confirmed the dates for the “historic” wedding, which comes amid ongoing divorce proceedings between the king and Queen Ntokozo kaMayisela.
In her court application, kaMayisela stated that she and the king were married in a civil union, with their marriage being in community of property. She argued that the king had already made plans to marry another woman and had even set a date for the wedding.
“I humbly submit that the respondent (Misuzulu) herein cannot enter into a civil marriage and/or a customary marriage while our civil marriage still subsists,” kaMayisela stated in her court papers.
She further argued that South African law prohibits a person married under civil law from entering into multiple marriages at the same time.
“I humbly submit that should the respondent proceed with the arrangement and ceremony as he intends, he will be committing bigamy and will also be entering into a marriage that is null and void under South African law. It is my humble submission that this honourable court is empowered to stop the respondent from committing the offence of bigamy,” she added.
The court’s ruling on the matter is awaited as the royal family faces growing public scrutiny over the legal and cultural implications of the king’s planned marriage.
