Established businesswoman, author and philanthropist, Nolubabala 'Babsi' Mcinga, now named Queen Khazeka Nolulabalo Mcinga Dalindyebo (42), and AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo (59) fell in love after three weeks. They first met through work. 

THE PAST

Their relationship comes after the controversial King's pending divorce from his first wife, Queen Nokwanda. This is his sixth marriage. His union with Queen Nokwanda is currently in the process of being dissolved, as it prevents him from taking and protecting another queen. According to the royal family, His Majesty has informed Queen Nokwanda of his intentions to marry again. "He is not divorcing to end the relationship with Queen Nokwanda but to change the status of their marriage from civil to customary marriage so that we as his wives are treated equally according to the laws," Queen Khazeka says.

THEIR UNION

The church's solemnisation proceeding where Queen Khazeka, a member of the uMagxongo royal family, recently took place at Gonubie Baptist Church, and their traditional welcoming (wedding) will follow on November 25, 2023. This is where the queen will be formally introduced to the royal family. The royal family has welcomed His Majesty's decision to take a second queen and wished him all the best.

EMPLOYMENT

In August, Queen Khazeka was appointed as Abathembu Royal Kingdom Development Management Director. Her work is inclusive of "maintaining relationships which serve as an anchoring support base and assistance for existing or new sponsors and be responsible for managing the Queen's Development Trust and the King's Land Trust." After working together for some time, a love spark blossomed between the two. "I met the King through an ask to assist him with Development Programs of the Kingdom including managing the AbaThembu Land Trust and the Queen’s Trust," she says. "I was then appointed officially and working closely with him when he then proposed marriage." The King says he doesn't wait to get to know a person as he can choose someone and realise after a few years that was a rotten potato and spoil the other potatoes in the bag." The two got married on 1 September 2023 in East London. "The King named me Khazeka after King Mguti's daughter, who was a warrior princess owakhe wakhokela amabutho (who was a leader of the warriors). King Buyelekhaya says to him the meaning is something egqarhazayo (shiny and precious), light and too bright meaning that I am the light in his life and the AbaThembu Kingdom." Queen Khazeka says his duties as a Queen are "Foremost, to respect the King, love him and his Kingdom authentically, to support the King in carrying out his work. I must be a symbol of unity for the royal family, the kingdom, the nation, and a global identity," she says. "The role my husband gave me as The Queen of AbaThembu Kingdom is to provide companionship and moral and practical support to the Monarch."