Zulu King Misuzulu's secret eviction, poisonings and a shocking R339,690 lawsuit: Royal scandal lands KZN government in hot soup

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government is facing a R339,690 lawsuit from an international fixer, Mhlangano Maphalala, who claims he was hired to resolve a sensitive matter involving King Misuzulu KaZwelithini last year.

This revelation, reported by Sunday World, paints a picture of behind-the-scenes dealings and raises questions about the handling of royal affairs.

Maphalala’s letter of demand, issued through his lawyers, Thinane Mabuza Incorporated, and dated April 15, 2024, is addressed to Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli’s office. He alleges that Dr Linda Zama, the Premier’s special advisor, contacted him on May 9, 2023, requesting urgent intervention at the King’s residence – a villa in the upmarket Ballito area of Durban.

The letter details Maphalala’s alleged actions, which included contacting the Eswatini royal family and South African government officials to resolve the undisclosed matter. He cites the “sensitive and personal nature in respect of the Zulu monarch’s office” as the reason for not publicly disclosing the nature of the issue.

However, information obtained from independent sources paints a clearer, albeit still partially obscured, picture. It appears that King Misuzulu had been residing in a Zimbali Resort villa, facing eviction due to over R300,000 in unpaid rent spanning three months.

One source described the situation: “Mhlangano was forced to phone the royal family in Eswatini to come and advise his majesty to leave the villa without a fight as he was in the wrong as he had failed to pay his monthly rental for it.”

Maphalala, whose company offers confidential reputational and project advisory services, claims his work involved extensive phone calls to Eswatini and over 3,000km of travel. He further claims to have facilitated meetings between a Swati prince and the then Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Thoko Didiza, in Pretoria, as well as a meeting with King Mswati III’s mother, Her Majesty Ntfombi Tfwala, and other officials.

Another source confirmed the successful resolution of the situation, stating: “The king eventually vacated the villa with a promise that his bill would be settled.”

The King’s presence at the luxurious villa, however, was not without context. Sources suggest security concerns played a significant role in his choice of residence.

“Remember that there were suspicions that his father, King Goodwill Zwelithini was poisoned because he suddenly fell sick,” one source explained.

“King Misuzulu was also alleged to have been poisoned. His uncle, King Mswati, requested that he be treated in Eswatini instead of being admitted to a health facility in SA.” The source also noted the suspected poisoning of King Misuzulu’s mother.

These security fears are further amplified by the ongoing challenge to King Misuzulu’s ascension to the throne. Prince Mbonisi Zulu, uncle to the King and brother of the late King Zwelithini Kabhekuzulu, advocates for the recognition of Prince Simakade, King Zwelithini’s firstborn son from an extra-marital relationship, claiming Misuzulu is unfit to rule.

A source elaborated: “This was also during what appeared to be the targeting of those around the king, such as his close confidants, who were also senior royals. Prince Mbongiseni Zulu was ambushed and killed. This created safety concerns for the king.”

Adding another layer to the situation, the late Amazulu traditional prime minister, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, reportedly opposed the King accepting accommodation from private individuals, fearing it would undermine his position.

As one source put it: “There was one Ngwenya who offered the king accommodation in one of his properties, but Shenge advised that this was undesirable.” This led to the King seeking alternative accommodation at the Ballito villa.

Attempts to obtain comment from various parties involved, including the legal representative of Thinane Mabuza Attorneys, Sibusiso Khubeka; Dr Zama; the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government’s chief state law advisor, Heinz Kuhn; King Misuzulu; and Zimbali Resort CEO Francois Schoeman, were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

While Dr Zama confirmed receipt of the letter of demand, further inquiries were directed to Mr Kuhn, who had not responded by press time. This leaves the matter unresolved, with significant financial and security implications for the KwaZulu-Natal royal family and the provincial government.