A power struggle has erupted between King Misuzulu and his traditional Prime Minister, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, over appointments to the Ingonyama Trust Board.
The dispute emerged after the king replaced Judge Jerome Ngwenya with Inkosi Thanduyise Mzimela as the board's chair, without consulting Buthelezi.
The Indonsa Yesizwe group has raised concerns over the fallout between the two highest offices in the Zulu kingdom.
Professor Musa Xulu of Indonsa criticised the parallel release of public statements, stating that the disagreement appears to be over personalities rather than promoting land access and security of tenure for the millions of people in the Ingonyama Trust.
"We find the parallel release of public statements by the two highest offices in the Zulu kingdom and the nation very much in disharmony. The struggle seems to be over the nominee of Ingonyama Trust board chairperson," said Xulu.
Traditional leaders held a media briefing, claiming that they had not been consulted over the removal of the board's chair.
The king's office subsequently announced a special meeting with Ngwenya and Mzimela to resolve the issue.
The Ingonyama Trust holds about 30% of the land in KwaZulu-Natal on behalf of the state. It has been a controversial issue since its establishment, with many criticising it for not promoting land reform while benefiting the Zulu monarchy at the expense of ordinary people.
