By: Natasha Archary

The Pretoria High Court has ruled that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recognition of Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the AmaZulu King is unlawful and invalid.
Twenty-three applicants put forward two review applications to the court to one, determine whether the incumbent king, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini was appointed king in terms of Zulu custom, and two, whether the President correctly recognised the present king in terms of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, 2019.
The court made the following order:
- It is declared that the recognition by the first respondent of the second respondent as Isilo of the Zulu Nation as contained in Government Gazette no 46057 of 17 March 2022 (the recognition decision) was unlawful and invalid and the recognition decision is hereby set aside.
- The matter of the recognition of the Isilo of the AmaZulu is remitted to the first respondent who is directed to act in terms of Sections 8(4) and 8(5) of the Traditional and Khoi-San Act 3 of 2019 and to appoint an investigative committee as contemplated in that Act to conduct an investigation and to provide a report in respect of allegations that the identification of the second respondent was not done in terms of customary laws and customs.
- The first respondent is ordered to pay the applicants’ costs of their applications, including the costs of two counsel, where employed.
- In respect of applications fr condonation for late filling of papers or to strike out allegations in affidavits, each party is ordered to pay its own costs.
Legal Expert, Mpumelelo Zikalala spoke to Phemelo Motene about the ruling and its implications.
Listen to the conversation on 959 Breakfast:
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