Prince Mbonisi Zulu, the nemesis of King Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini who was last week fired by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), is not taking the matter lying down.
The senior Zulu prince, a half brother to the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, has unleashed his lawyers on the department to challenge the sacking.
In a letter obtained by the African Times, addressed to the department led by MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, Prince Mbonisi’s lawyers denied that he absconded from work. They pointed out that since his re-appointment in August this year, his scope of work was not defined to him.
“Our Client and the team have to date not received instructions from the office of the MEC in respect of the work to be undertaken in respect of the Commission.
“Despite our client and the team making enquiries therein, no communication has been received from the KZN COGTA; and Our Client has continued to avail himself to perform the work of the Commission for the period in question,” the Prince’s lawyers said in their letter.
They also denied he did not avail himself for a head count, the reason the department cited for axing Prince Mbonisi as a Researcher: Anthropology, Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims Commission.
“Our Client was not called to a compulsory headcount nor received any communication in respect of his asserted failure to report for duty by telephone or email for the period commencing 15 August 2024 to date.
“In the circumstances this letter seeks the immediate reinstatement of our Client by the Executive Authority in addition to the immediate payment of the remuneration due to our Client for December 2024 which remains outstanding.”
“Kindly provide our office with confirmation of the aforegoing by close of business on 20 December 2024, failing which we have instructions to seek alternative relief herein,” they warned the department.
The department did not comment when asked about the letter.
Problems between Prince Mbonisi and the KwaZulu-Natal Cogta started in July 2024 when he was first fired.
The decision was later rescinded.
The late King Zwelithini, who died in March 2022, recommended Prince Mbonisi to CoGTA for the job in 2012.
After King Zwelithini’s death two years ago, Prince Mbonisi led a royal faction that challenged the ascension of King Misuzulu to the throne.
He took the reigning King to court several times. In one of the prominent court cases, Prince Mbonisi wanted King Misizulu to be stopped from appointing people to the board of the Ingonyama Trust and having access to trust funds to bankroll any of his cases or lifestyle.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed the application with costs
