THE FUSE

By Celani Sikhakhane

• King Misuzulu kaZwelithini says two women collected R1.5-million from a company after claiming he sent them to seek Reed Dance funding.

• Prince Nathi kaPhumanyova accused two women of using the King’s name to demand money from traditional leaders seeking access and recognition.

King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has exposed two women who he says used his name to collect R1.5-million meant to support the Reed Dance.

And the King says it did not stop with cash.

He claims the women also approached car dealerships and obtained luxury vehicles using his name without his permission.

King Misuzulu made the revelations on Sunday during the closing ceremony of the 46th annual Reed Dance at eMashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

He told thousands of maidens that the women, who he referred to as Gogo and Ncamu, had approached companies claiming they had been sent by him to raise money for the Reed Dance.

The King said he discovered what had happened while his own team was approaching companies for financial support.

“In one instance, a certain company told us that they had donated R1.5-million,” King Misuzulu said.

He said his team then discovered that the women had already approached the company and received the money while claiming to represent him.

“Only to find out that those women had already approached the same company and got that money for themselves while claiming to be sent by me. I really don’t know them,” he said.

King Misuzulu also accused the women of using his name to obtain vehicles.

“They were even taking cars from dealerships using my name, which is something I never knew about,” he said.

The King’s comments came a day after Prince Nathi kaPhumanyova of the KwaMandlakazi Royal House raised concerns about two women who he accused of demanding money from traditional leaders.

Prince Nathi told King Misuzulu on Saturday that one of the women described herself as the King’s granny.

“Your Majesty, we have a problem with two women who are busy extorting money from traditional leaders in your name,” Prince Nathi said.

He claimed one of the women promised traditional leaders that she could help them gain recognition and access to the King.

Prince Nathi said traditional leaders had become frustrated by the situation and asked King Misuzulu to intervene.

Some royal sources who spoke to Scrolla.Africa made further serious claims about the woman described as the King’s granny.

They claimed she had approached big companies and promised access to land under the Ingonyama Trust for business opportunities.

Scrolla.Africa has not established whether any land was allocated as a result of these alleged approaches.

One royal source also claimed the woman charged people as much as R100,000 for help arranging meetings with King Misuzulu.

The source further claimed that the woman had boasted about powerful connections, including links to the Gcaba brothers and former president Jacob Zuma.

The source also questioned how the woman funded a mansion in a rural area near Durban, where top politicians were reportedly invited to a housewarming event last year.

No evidence supporting those additional claims was provided in the information seen by Scrolla.Africa.

King Misuzulu’s own allegations, however, put the controversy firmly in the spotlight at one of the Zulu nation’s biggest cultural events.

His message was clear: people collecting money or obtaining expensive goods in his name do not necessarily have his permission.

Pictured above: King Misuzulu kaZwelithini addressing the 46th annual Reed Dance at eMashobeni Royal Palace.

Image source: KZNDSAC