President Cyril Ramaphosa will challenge the decision by the Noth Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to set aside his recognition of Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the AmaZulu King. On Monday, Judge Norman Davis ruled that the president's decision was unlawful and invalid and was set aside with costs. The court further ordered Ramaphosa to institute an investigative committee to investigate allegations of violation of customary laws in the identification of King Misuzulu.

Ramaphosa spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said following a study of the judgment, the President will apply for leave to appeal against the court's decision. Magwenya added that during these legal processes, King Misuzulu remains the identified heir to the throne. "The president is calling on all members of the royal family to continue working for the unity of ubukhosi bakwaZulu and to prioritise the interest of His Majesty's subjects. It is vital that all due processes are allowed to reach their natural conclusion without inflaming tensions," said Magwenya. President Ramaphosa officially handed over a certificate of recognition to King Misuzulu KaZwelithini in October last year the same month he was crowned AmaZulu King. Ramaphosa had already issued the certificate to Misuzulu earlier last year and was following a wish expressed by the royal family, to formally hand over the certificate at a ceremony held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Yesterday, Misuzulu's spokesperson Prince Afrika Zulu said that the King was still studying the verdict. "You must note that the King is not affected by the verdict. The Zulu kingship is not at all affected by it but he is still studying it. What is important is the fact that Ramaphosa has responded to the court outcome and that he will be appealing the decision to set aside his coronation and recognition of the King. We don't want to speak much about this since we are still processing the judgment, but our understanding is that the judge ruled against the president's role in the process which does not affect the throne since he was already a king when he was handed with a certificate," said he said.

King Misuzulu was recognised by Ramaphosa as the King of the nation a year after the deaths of his father King Goodwill Zwelithini kaZulu and his mother, Queen Regent Mantfombi. The court case between King Goodwill Zwelithini's sons resumed at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria just a month after the passing of Prime Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who had backed Misuzulu's appointment as king. Before Shenge passed away, there was a dispute between the King and the Zulu Prime Minister which saw the late Prince not signing an affidavit that forms part of the King's support documentation and evidence. Buthelezi had chaired a 2021 family meeting, where Misuzulu was announced as the successor to his mother, Queen Regent Mantfombi.