Today, the High Court in Pietermaritzburg is expected to hear an application by five members of the AmaZulu royal family for an interdict against the continued rule of Misuzulu ka Zwelithini and his administration of the Ingonyama Trust.
The royal family members filed the application in November last year, while a legal challenge to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recognition of Misuzulu as monarch was still pending before the High Court in Pretoria.
The court later overturned the President’s decision and ordered an investigation into alleged irregularities in the identification of a new monarch following the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini.
The Presidency is currently appealing the court ruling.
The High Court has been asked to issue an interdict until the legal challenge about the appointment of a new monarch is finalized.
Among other requests, the applicants seek to prevent the King from meeting with traditional leaders (Amakhosi) and to order the provincial government not to allocate public funds and resources for the King’s benefit.
They also want to stop the Ingonyama Trust from covering the King’s legal costs in the challenge over his recognition as monarch. The court is further asked to review the appointment of members and chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board and their decisions since May last year.
