Judgment reserved in Ramaphosa's appeal matter on recognising King Misuzulu as Zulu heir

BLOEMFONTEIN - Judgment has been reserved in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appeal matter involving the Zulu royal family’s identification process.

The president seeks to overturn a judgment by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria invalidating his recognition of King Misuzulu kaZwekithini as the rightful heir.

The appeal was heard for two days in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).

With arguments having been concluded, the judges said they would announce the judgment at a later stage.

Ramaphosa’s lawyers have argued till the end of these proceedings that his recognition of Amazulu King Misuzulu as monarch was done properly, while the king’s lawyers told the five judges that custom dictates that he be on the Zulu throne.

The parties then submitted that the high court order be reversed.

However, Prince Simakde wants the North Gauteng High Court ruling to be adhered to, and that the president appoints an investigative committee to probe the process of identification.

Meanwhile, the king’s uncle, Prince Mbonisi Zulu, wants the court to refer the matter of identifying a king back to the Zulu royal family.

Justice Dumisani Zondi reserved the judgment.

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