Only a month after he called off his traditional wedding to his second wife, Nomzamo Myeni, Zulu king Misuzulu kaZwelithini introduced his bride-to-be. Princess Inkosatana Sihle Mdhluli from the Mdhluli royal family in Mpumalanga arrived at the royal home to accept the king's proposal.

A WARM WELCOME

In her early 20s, Princess Sihle was welcomed by the Zulu royal family, who have since confirmed the presence. Prince Gumbela Zulu said the new potential mother of the Zulu nation had been formally introduced to members of the royal family. She is currently at the royal kraal while waiting for the king to give a directive. Prince Zulu said the king is allowed to marry as many wives as he wishes, and one must give birth to the heir.

MARRIAGE

King Misuzulu is the second-oldest surviving son of King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu; therefore, the pressure to marry a royal wife who will bear him an heir is mounting. The king met his first wife, Queen Ntokozo Mayisela, in 2009 and married her in May 2021, a day before his mother's funeral. They have two children. The couple has been estranged since last year, and the king has filed for a divorce. In January, the queen filed urgent court papers to stop him from marrying Myeni at a traditional wedding at KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace on 26 January this year. But the king changed his mind a week before the wedding and also asked the KwaZulu-Natal premier to revoke all of Myeni's benefits and security details.