Polygamous marriages are recognized in South Africa, but only if they are registered as common-law marriages.
This latest row comes amid a series of scandals that have befallen the Missusulu king since he came to power just over two years ago.
The Zulu king has no formal political power, and the monarch’s role in South African society is largely ceremonial, but he remains highly influential with an annual state budget of several million dollars.
Before ascending the throne, the king married Maisela in a civil marriage in 2021.
In her legal argument, heard at the high court on Monday, the Queen, through her lawyer, said the King could not marry anyone else as their marriage was still valid.
Under South African law, a civil marriage must either be dissolved or converted to a traditional union before a man can take a wife.
Dismissing an application to annul the king’s marriage to Namzam Myeni, Justice Bongani Mngadi said that since the queen had already agreed to the idea that her husband could marry other women, she could not prevent the ceremony from taking place.
Last year, the royal couple agreed to convert their civil marriage to a traditional one, according to what was said in court on Monday. But the king has since filed for divorce, saying their relationship has broken down.
Despite the letter’s announcement, as well as the king’s lawyer in court, who said the wedding would not take place, conflicting statements also appeared.
South African news site TimesLIVE reports that the bride-to-be said she knew nothing about the letter and that as far as she understood, her wedding would go ahead as originally planned.
According to another news site, IOL, which reportedly spoke to the couple, the king insisted he loved Myeni and would “marry her by force”.
Since his coronation in October 2022, there has been controversy surrounding some of the decisions made by the King of Missuzulu.
In December, he illegally suspended the Ingonyama Trust, which owns and controls vast tracts of communal land in KwaZulu-Natal, which is supposed to be for the benefit and well-being of the king-led communities in the region.
The King of Missuzulu is the sole trustee and chairman of the trust, but has no power to hire or fire board members.
He also recently quickly sacked two close aides, including his traditional prime minister, in quick succession – moves that have raised eyebrows among royal watchers.
Misuzulu’s position as king has also been questioned by some, and there is currently a court case challenging the state’s recognition of him as a monarch.
He ascended the throne earlier than expected after his father, King Goodwill Zwelitini, died during the Covid pandemic in March 2021 from complications related to diabetes.
Zwelitini was the longest-reigning monarch of the Zulu nation, serving on the throne for almost 50 years.
