SCA hears Ramaphosa's challenge in King Misuzulu recognition case

THE Supreme Court of Appeal challenge by President Cyril Ramaphosa against the high court judgment that set aside the president's recognition of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini as King of the Zulu Nation is not about the legitimacy of the king, but about the legality of the process.

- ZELDA VENTER

Advocate Morumo Moerane SC, who argued on behalf of Ramaphosa, said yesterday that the identification of King Misuzulu as Zulu king was done in accordance with Zulu customary law.

Moerane said it was the right of the president to identify the king, if he had already been identified by the Royal Family in terms of customary law. The question is not whether King Misuzulu is the suitable king, but whether the president has acted lawfully in confirming the king identified by the royal family, Moerane argued. He told the court that at a meeting held on May 14, 2021, where members of the royal family were present, King Misuzulu was lawfully identified as the next Zulu King. It was all done in accordance with law, Moerane said.