Johannesburg – AfriForum has congratulated His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini after the Constitutional Court rejected an appeal challenging his status as the rightful ruler of the Zulu nation.
On 20 February 2026, the Constitutional Court refused leave to appeal to Prince Simakade, who alleged that Misuzulu’s ascension to the throne was fraught with irregularities and should be nullified.
Prince Simakade is the eldest son of the late King Zwelithini Zulu.
He has been contesting his brother’s accession to the throne since their father died on 12 March 2021.
However, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially certified Misuzulu KaZwelithini as the Zulu King on 16 March 2022 at a ceremony at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Prince Simakade contested the move in court.
In 2023, the High Court in Pretoria found President Ramaphosa erred when he recognised King Misuzulu as the leader of the Zulu nation.
President Ramaphosa took the ruling on appeal at a higher court.
In October 2025, the Supreme Court of Appeal set aside the 2023 High Court ruling.
Undeterred, Prince Simakade and his uncle, Prince Mbonisi, a brother of the late King, challenged the outcome.
Prince Simakade approached the Constitutional Court, insisting the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment handed down by Judge Dumisani Zondi was flawed and should be set aside.
Yesterday, Friday 20 February 2026, the highest court in the land, the Constitutional Court, rejected Simakade’s application for leave to appeal.
In rejecting the application, the Constitutional Court found there were no reasonable prospects of success.
Prince Simakade was ordered to pay the costs.
Commenting on the matter today, Saturday 21 February 2026, AfriForum said: “This brings to an end the protracted court battle over the Zulu kingship that has raged since King Misuzulu’s ascension to the throne in 2022”.
Barend Uys, Head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation, added: “AfriForum warmly congratulates King Misuzulu on this historic victory.
“AfriForum is grateful for the opportunity created by the ruling to restore the dignity of cultural leadership, stability within the Zulu cultural community, and a future-oriented focus on development.
“We sincerely hope that the Zulu royal family, traditional leaders, and the Zulu nation at large will wholeheartedly rally behind King Misuzulu and collaborate to ensure the well-being and progress of their cultural community.”
Uys said it will be a privilege for AfriForum to continue working with King Misuzulu, amakhosi, and izinduna to promote grassroots-level self-sufficiency and development for Zulu communities and to ensure good relations and cooperation – based on mutual recognition and respect – between the Zulu and Afrikaner cultural communities.
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