South Africa: Misuzulu - Not Just a King, but a Kingmaker

15 August 2023
Scrolla (Johannesburg)

Road to 2024: Knowing that the support of the king will be key in the 2024 elections in KZN, writes Zukile Majova, the ANC secretary-general has taken his charm offensive to Misuzulu's palace.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula travelled to KwaKhangela Amankengane Palace, the home of Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, on Tuesday in a clear attempt to win royal favour.

This is the latest indication of how important the king will be in the 2024 elections in KwaZulu-Natal.

Try as hard as he may to draw the Zulu royal family away from politics in the province, His Majesty is getting pulled from all sides by politicians who are realising they cannot win without him.

The province, which has been a happy hunting ground for the ANC for almost two decades, appears to be slipping away from the ruling party.

Evidence of this shift became clear during the local government elections which left 21 municipalities hung, with none of the big parties able to secure an outright majority.

Ahead of the 2021 elections, the ANC offended millions of Zulu traditionalists when it refused to recognise the then Prince Misuzulu as the rightful heir to his late father's throne.

The provincial government withheld over R60 million in annual funding due to the king for the running of his affairs and the upkeep of his father's palaces.

During this period, IFP founder Mangosuthu Buthelezi appeared to be the only one fighting for the king and the restoration of Zulu traditions and customs.

The IFP, a party which remains steeped in Zulu traditions and values, returned to popularity in the Zulu Kingdom.

The ANC dipped below 50% in both Durban and Pietermaritzburg while Richards Bay, the third biggest municipality in KZN, is firmly under the control of the IFP.

And now a coalition of mainly the IFP and the DA is criss-crossing the province campaigning to unseat the ANC in the provincial government come the 2024 elections.

Previously Sbu Mhlongo, the chairperson of the ANC in Mzala Nxumalo Region (Zululand District) told the media that they lost councils to the IFP because of poor relations with the royal family.

"We realised that one of the many things that led to our dismal performance at the polls was that we neglected the issue of the throne, we neglected the issue of the Shembe church and we neglected the issues around Msholozi (Zuma)," Mhlongo said.

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