Zulu Royal court battle: Ramaphosa maintains his decision to ...

Misuzulu kaZwelithini at his traditional crowning as Zulu king in Ulundi.

President Cyril Ramaphosa maintains his decision to appoint King Misuzulu as the Zulu king is valid and rational.

Ramaphosa is cited as one of the respondents in the case brought by Prince Simakade, who wants to dethrone his half-brother, King Misizulu.

Simakade is the late King Zwelithini's eldest son.

He argued in court that the nomination and selection process of the king had to be properly followed and that he wanted Ramaphosa's decision to be reviewed and set aside.

Simakade wants the meeting convened by the late Prince Mangosotho Buthelezi, during which Misuzulu was identified as the heir to the throne, to be reviewed and set aside.

He also wants the coronation and recognition of Misuzulu to be reviewed and set aside.

READ | King Misuzulu and Prince Simakade: Who is the king of the Zulu nation?

On Tuesday, advocate Marumo Moerane SC, representing Ramaphosa, told the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria that the president was opposing Simakade's application.

Moerane told the court the decision to appoint Misuzulu was made following the Royal Family's valid identification of the king-elect and that there was no dispute before the president.

Ramaphosa's counsel further argued his decision to appoint Misuzulu was guided by the judgment of Judge Isaac Madondo, which cleared King Misuzulu for the crown.

Moerane argued that Ramaphosa's decision to recognise Misuzulu as the king was not reviewable and maintained the president's decision was not casually connected to any bias in favour of Misuzulu.

Simakade, in his court papers, argued that Ramaphosa's conduct amounted to procedural unfairness because he did not allow him or his close advisors to make representations in response to the mediation panel.

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However, Ramaphosa said that argument did not hold water because no provision in law obliged him to act in that manner.

When Ramaphosa recognised Misuzulu as the king in March 2022, the Presidency said the Royal Family had identified him as the person who qualified in terms of customary law and customs to assume the position of king and applied to the president for his recognition. 

The president maintained that he acted and took the decision within the ambit of the requirements of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act.