Current:Home > InvestA court sets aside the South African president’s recognition of the Zulu king-LoTradeCoin
A court sets aside the South African president’s recognition of the Zulu king
lotradecoin market View Date:2024-12-25 12:42:19
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African court has overturned President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to recognize Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the king of the country’s 15 million-strong Zulu nation in what may spark a lengthy battle for the throne.
Ramaphosa has now been ordered to launch an investigation into objections by some members of the Zulu royal house that the correct processes were not followed in selecting kaZwelithini as the rightful heir to the throne.
KaZwelithini was chosen as the new king last year after the death of his father, King Goodwill Zwelithini.
He was recognized by Ramaphosa as the new king and handed a recognition certificate, but some of his siblings have challenged the process and insisted that he is not the rightful heir to the throne and that due processes were not followed in choosing him.
In a judgment delivered by Judge Norman Davis in the Pretoria High Court on Monday, Ramaphosa was criticised for not launching an investigation after he became aware that there was a dispute in the royal house regarding the selection of the heir to the throne.
According to South African law, which recognizes and affords some rights and responsibilities to traditional leadership, Ramaphosa was supposed to launch an investigation as soon as he was aware of objections against the recognition of the new king.
“It is declared that the recognition by the first respondent of the second respondent as Isilo of the Zulu nation was unlawful and invalid and the recognition decision is hereby set aside,” reads the judgment.
The judge noted that his ruling was not meant to determine whether the king was the rightful heir, but whether the correct processes had been followed.
The president has now been ordered to appoint a committee to investigate the disputes.
The Zulu royal house is estimated to control about 30% of the land in South Africa’s eastern KwaZulu-Natal province through the Ingonyama Trust.
It also receives an annual budget of more than $4 million from the provincial government for the upkeep of the royal households and cultural activities.
According to the latest national census, isiZulu is the most spoken language in South Africa with 24.4% of households speaking it.
The royal house has not yet responded to the judgment.
___
AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
veryGood! (8)
Related
- One Tech Tip: How to protect your communications through encryption
- Prosecutors file evidence against Rays shortstop Wander Franco in Dominican Republic probe
- After the Surfside collapse, Florida is seeing a new condo boom
- Veteran celebrating 101st birthday says this soda is his secret to longevity
- Michael Bublé Details Heartwarming Moment With Taylor Swift’s Parents at Eras Tour
- NASA spacecraft makes its closest-ever approach to Jupiter's moon Io, releases new images of the solar system's most volcanic world
- Mother and uncle of a US serviceman are rescued from Gaza in a secret operation
- New Mexico considers setback requirements for oil wells near schools and day care centers
- Fewer U.S. grandparents are taking care of grandchildren, according to new data
- A look at killings of militant leaders believed targeted by Israel
Ranking
- Sabrina Carpenter Shares Her Self
- ESPN apologizes for showing woman flashing her breast during Sugar Bowl broadcast
- Ethnic armed group battling Myanmar’s military claims to have shot down an army helicopter
- Two large offshore wind sites are sending power to the US grid for the first time
- Alex Jones keeps Infowars for now after judge rejects The Onion’s winning auction bid
- Some workers get hurt on the job more than others — here's who and why
- Zac Efron Reveals His First Kiss and Why It Was the Start of Something New
- Why Fans Think Kendall Jenner & Bad Bunny Reunited After Breakup
Recommendation
-
Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people in biggest single
-
New Mexico regulators reject utility’s effort to recoup some investments in coal and nuclear plants
-
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele takes his reelection campaign beyond the borders
-
Which EVs qualify for a $7,500 tax credit in 2024? See the updated list.
-
Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
-
Prosecutors file evidence against Rays shortstop Wander Franco in Dominican Republic probe
-
Meet the newest breed to join the American Kennel Club, a little dog with a big smile
-
Ford recalls 113,000 F-150 vehicles for increased crash risk: See which trucks are affected