In an unprecedented move within the Zulu royal family, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has filed for divorce against one of his wives, saying their marriage has broken down.

The King has three wives and ascended to the throne in May 2021 amid a tussle with his brother Prince Simakade Zulu. 

In papers quietly filed before the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal and seen by African Times, the Zulu monarch detailed the “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.”

This is the first time in the Zulu nation’s 209-year history that a King has divorced a wife. 

African Times has withheld the wife’s name to protect their children. 

’’The marriage relationship between the plaintiff and the defendant has reached such a state of disintegration that there is no reasonable prospect for the restoration of a normal marriage between the parties in that: The parties have on several occasions experienced trouble with their marriage and tried to restore the relationship without success.

“The parties have not lived together as husband and wife for a continuous period of at least one year immediately prior to [the] date of the institution of the action (the divorce proceedings),” reads part of King Misuzulu’s affidavit.

Furthermore, the Zulu monarch has offered to pay the wife’s monthly maintenance of R20 000 for a year from the day the divorce is finalised in court. 

He also said in court papers that they have already divided some of their belongings.

“There are no assets and liabilities in the joint estate worth mentioning and the parties have already divided their personal belongings between themselves. There is no need for an order dividing their joint estate,” King Misuzulu told the court, adding that his wife would have to foot her legal costs if she chose to defend the case.  

African Times cannot divulge the rest of the court papers’ contents as they may indirectly identify the wife and breach certain laws governing the reporting of divorce proceedings. 

Melusi Xulu of Durban-based Donda Attorneys represent the King, while Cavanagh and Richards Attorneys represent the wife.