The Zulu nation began a new era when President Cyril Ramaphosa handed over a certificate of recognition to King Misuzulu kaZwelithini in a watershed ceremony that took place in a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban recently.
The occasion certified King Misuzulu as the ninth monarch of the Zulu kingdom, which was formed by King Shaka over two centuries ago. King Misuzulu ascended to the throne following the death of his father, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, in March 2021. Subsequently, Queen Regent Mantfombi maDlamini, who was the great wife of the late king, passed away and Misuzulu was named the preferred successor by the royal family. 
While he was already on the throne and was traditionally coronated in August when he performed the Ukungena Esibayeni (Entering the Kraal) ceremony, the handover certificate cemented his kingship as per the Constitution of the country.
Ministers and deputy ministers attended the ceremony, as did former presidents Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki and former president of Botswana Ian Khama, former South African deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, President of the Confederation of African Football Patrice Motsepe and Princess Charlene of Monaco. Kings and queens from various African kingdoms were also among the guests.
King Mswati III, who is King Misuzulu’s uncle (half-brother to his mother, Queen Mantfombi) led the delegation from Eswatini. He delivered a congratulatory message in which he appealed for stronger relations between South Africa and Eswatini.
The last ceremony of this kind was held five decades ago when the late King Goodwill Zwelithini took the throne in 1971.
The coronation marked the official endorsement of the King by the State, in line with the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act of 2019.
The Zulu King will receive a budget from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, allocated to the royal household. The money is used for major cultural events and to maintain the palaces.
Developing rural areas
President Ramaphosa committed his government to work with the King to change people’s lives and transform rural areas into places of development and prosperity. He says traditional leaders are custodians of the cultures, customs and traditions that make us who we are.
“You are the latest in a long line of great kings, who have seen many challenges across the centuries, and today we are also faced with many difficulties. Millions of our people are unemployed and live in poverty. Substance abuse, crime and the abuse of women, children and the elderly are devastating our communities. Many of our rural areas suffer from poor services and a lack of jobs. Land reform remains a huge problem.
“As government at the local, provincial and national level, we continue to make several interventions to address all these challenges and will want to rely on you, Your Majesty, to work with us to address the problems that our people are facing on a daily basis.”
As King Misuzulu took to the podium, the crowd cheered. He told his subjects and guests that he took over the throne when the country was facing challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and trust deficits in the government, and he vowed to work with all stakeholders to overcome the challenges.
“It is my daily prayer that I will be the catalyst for development and change. Our history is incomplete without other races of Indians, English, Afrikaners, and other Nguni tribes. I am devoted to promoting peace and reconciliation as my father (King Zwelithini) had already started. I have full confidence in our government that we will overcome the challenges if we work together,” he said.
Witnessing the King’s coronation
About 45 000 people, mainly Zulu regiments (amabutho) and maidens clad in their traditional attire, took turns to salute the King in front of the stage. They spoke with pride of how privileged they were to be part of what they hoped would be a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony.
“It is an amazing feeling to be in full traditional gear, as we normally wear suits. The atmosphere is overwhelming… I’m truly proud of being a Zulu and seeing other nations coming to celebrate with us,” said Zibonele Mncwango from Pietermaritzburg. 
Dolly Masango, Commander of Maidens, led thousands of maidens who came from various areas of KwaZulu-Natal. She said the maidens, like regiments, are special to the King as they are by his side, wherever he goes.
“We are happy that the succession process is finally over and the King can continue with programmes where we play our roles as maidens,” she said.
A pensioner, Mbhekiseni Mpaza, said he was lucky to have witnessed the coronation. “It is encouraging to see many young people being part of this; it shows that the Zulu culture will be preserved for future generations,” he said.
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