Defiance could land Zulu prince in jail, warn experts

PRINCE Simakade Zulu’s continued defiance after the Constitutional Court confirmed king Misuzulu as legitimate AmaZulu monarch could result in him being in contempt of court and subsequently jail time. 

This is according to legal expert attorney Talent Mhlongo after the apex court rejected Simakade’s application for leave to appeal the Supreme Court of Appeal’s (SCA) affirmation of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recognition of King Misuzulu as king of the Zulu nation. 

The court found that Simakade has no prospect of successfully appealing the SCA’s October 2025 ruling. 

In the judgment, Deputy Chief Justice Dunstan Mlambo and his seven colleagues said the court had concluded that there were no reasonable prospects of success on the merits of the application for leave to appeal.

However, through his spokesperson Prince Thokozani Zulu, Simakade rejected the ruling, saying that he would continue to be recognised as the real king because his appointment followed correct traditional steps, which included the ceremony of entering the kraal.

Mhlongo said if Simakade continues to act as a king, he would be in contempt of court which is a criminal offence and Ramaphosa, king Misuzulu or even a non-governmental organisation could take him to court.

“It is advisable for Prince Simakade to just let it go and live with the reality that he will never become king of AmaZulu. He must counsel himself because continuing to act as a king could lead to contempt of court,” said Mhlongo.

An argument could be made that Simakade's continued claims could lead to violence and instability in KwaZulu-Natal, especially if two ‘kings’ claim legitimacy over a large number of subjects such as AmaZulu.

University of KwaZulu-Natal-based cultural expert Professor Sihawu Ngubane agreed with Mhlongo, saying Simakade must understand the importance of respecting the position rather than the person who occupies it. Ngubane said Simakade may not recognise king Misuzulu as a person but he is bound to respect the crown, especially after the Constitutional Court ruling. 

The Friday judgment was the culmination of a five-year-old battle between the Zulu royal factions which started soon after the burial of the late king Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.

Cape Times