Zulu King fires spokesperson and cancels his wedding to new wife: ‘She is too bossy and manipulative, all allowances and benefits withdrawn’

AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has pulled a shocker in the Zulu nation with a double announcement: the immediate dismissal of his spokesperson, Prince Simphiwe Zulu, and the abrupt cancellation of his upcoming traditional wedding to Nomzamo Myeni.

The news, breaking on Saturday, follows the king’s recent dismissal of traditional Prime Minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi, further intensifying the turmoil within the royal household.

The king’s decision to dismiss Prince Simphiwe was detailed in a formal letter. The letter stated: “After careful consideration and extensive consultation, I have come to the conclusion that it is in the best interest of the Zulu Royal House and the Kingdom of KwaZulu to relieve you of all your official duties with immediate effect.”

The letter cited a litany of failures on the prince’s part, including neglecting his duties as the king’s representative in KwaZulu-Natal, national houses of traditional leaders, and the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta).

The king specifically criticised Prince Simphiwe’s inaccessibility as a spokesperson, leading to a lack of communication and, consequently, one-sided and often inaccurate media reports.

“Several media houses complained about the prince’s failure to provide comments, leading to one-sided and mostly inaccurate reports,” the king stated in the letter. He added that this had damaged the reputation and integrity of the royal house and his own standing as king.

Furthermore, the king accused Prince Simphiwe of creating unnecessary tension between himself and key entities, including the Ingonyama Trust Board and the Minister of Rural Development. The letter highlighted that this tension stemmed from the prince’s consistent failure to promptly address communications from these crucial bodies.

“These issues have escalated unnecessarily, even reaching the parliamentary portfolio committee, creating challenges that could have been avoided with proper communication and action. Your actions and omissions have undermined the effective administration of my office and strained critical relationships, both within the royal house and with external entities,” the king’s letter stated.

Prince Simphiwe has been instructed to return all royal documentation and resources in his possession. Despite the dismissal, the king expressed gratitude for the prince’s past contributions to the royal house. Sources within the royal household expressed a sense of relief at the prince’s dismissal, describing it as the “highlight of the day.”

The dismissal of Prince Simphiwe is not the only significant development. The king has also definitively called off his wedding to Nomzamo Myeni, scheduled for 24 and 26 January. This decision, according to sources, is not a recent one. The wedding was previously postponed in December, and the king has reportedly been adamant about its cancellation for some time.

A source close to the royal family revealed: “He told his lawyers and her that there won’t be any wedding. The wedding is definitely not going to happen, because since he came out of seclusion, there are things he is not supposed to do. He also has to go to Eswatini to do some rituals at his mother’s home. He always maintained that he will not get married.”

This cancellation extends to the withdrawal of all benefits and security detail for Ms Myeni. A letter seen by City Press, addressed to the director general in the office of the premier, Nonhlanhla Mkhize, confirmed the immediate termination of all allowances and privileges for Ms Myeni, with her security detail to be withdrawn by 11am on Sunday.

The king’s letter stated: “Due to reasons beyond the control of the royal house, the traditional wedding ceremonies involving Ms Myeni have been called off. As a result, it has become necessary to terminate all associated arrangements.”

Sources within the royal family allege that the king’s decision to not marry stems from his own unwillingness to proceed with the union. They also claim that the king confronted both Prince Simphiwe and Ms Myeni on December 31st regarding unspecified allegations. Further allegations against Ms Myeni emerged, with sources claiming she was “bossy and manipulative,” with even her bodyguards complaining about her demanding behaviour.

One source stated: “She is bossy and manipulative. Even her bodyguards were complaining saying she makes them carry bags for her. They are saying ‘if something happens, how are we going to protect her?’ They don’t even carry their own bags. They said when they got inside the shops, they had to take out the credit card and money for her.”

Ms Myeni declined to comment on the situation. The king’s actions have created a significant stir within the Zulu nation, raising questions about the future direction of the royal house and the implications of these dramatic changes.