The Zulu Royal House Trust is a statutory entity established under the KZN Zulu Royal House Trust Act (Act No.3 of 2018). The Trust was established to be administered for the benefit of the Zulu Monarch and the Zulu Royal family and be managed to provide for the maintenance and upkeep of the assets of the Trust.
Vision
To restore, enhance and sustain the status, dignity and role of the Zulu Monarch as the instrument of social cohesion, social development and economic change.
Mission
- To sustain, maintain and protect the identity and image of the Zulu Monarch,
- To support the Zulu Monarch in preserving, protecting and promoting cultural heritage, values and customs, and
- To provide for and maintain the Royal Family
Values
The KwaZulu-Natal Royal House Trust will work in accordance with a clear set of values demonstrating the following:
- Honesty
- Loyalty
- Openness & Transparency
- Confidentiality
- Integrity
- Creativity and Innovation
- Co-operation
- Commitment
The Blazon of the Royal Arms
- The blazon of the Royal Arms is described as Arms: Argent, in pale the sceptre of the King between four huts, overall in base a representation of the Royal Hut.
- Supporters: On a ground sable, two lions Or, armed Argent and langued sable.
Motto: Ilembe Leqa Amanye Ngoku Khalipha (Together, we shall surmount – an allusion to the motto on the former South African arms, Unity is Strength). - The silver (white) shield is derived from the colour ox-hide of the royal herd, and the sceptre of “Inhlendla is the symbol of the King’s authority.
- The Royal Hut never stands alone, and the King is the “Lion of the Zulu, hence the choice of supporters.
Zulu Royal Palaces
The ZRHT delivers ±90% of its services to the Royal palaces (Izigodlo) in Nongoma/Ulundi.
KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace:
His first wife, Queen MaDlamini, lives here.
Location – Nongoma
KwaLinduzulu Royal Palace:
Queen MaNdlovu, lives here.
Location – Nongoma
Ingwavuma/EmaChobeni Royal Palace:
it is the site of the Umhlanga (Reed Dance) waseNgwavuma.
Location – Ngwavuma
KwaDlamahlahla Royal Palace:
Queen KaMathe lives here.
Location – Nongoma
Enyokeni Royal Palace:
and it is the ‘traditional’ palace. In early September it is the site of the Umhlanga (Reed Dance).
Location – Nongoma
Osuthu Royal Palace:
Queen MaMchiza lives here
Location – Nongoma
KwaKhanyelamankengane Royal Palace:
The late Queen Regent Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu lived here.
Location – Nongoma
Ondini Royal Palace:
Queen KaMafu lives here
Location – Ulundi
KwaKhangelamankengane
Royal Palace
KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace is home to the current King, His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, who is the successor to his late father, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, who died on 12 March 2021. kwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace is also where the celebration of the ascension of the new AmaZulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini took place, and where King MisuZulu performed ukungena esibayeni (the entering of the kraal ceremony) on 20 August 2022.
The Zulu Kingdon Family Tree
The Zulu Kingdom Background
From King Shaka to King Mpande
King Shaka consolidated various clans into a powerful nation in a short space of time from 1816 to 1828 when his brother (some would say half-brother) murdered him. In his consolidation process, he created one of the most powerful Kingdoms in the world. Some historians refer to him as the black Napoleon. It is not necessary to deal with this comparison, suffice it to say that the status of the Royal family was beyond question. This status continued through King Dingane to King Mpande although the territorial boundaries were now being reduced and constantly under threat. During King Mpande’s reign, a significant portion of the Kingdom was now ruled by the British imperialist while some portion had been taken over as independent States (Republics) by the Voortrekkers. The King was still the ruler of his people, despite these challenges.
From King Cetshwayo to Now
King Cetshwayo reigned under very trying circumstances and for a short time. Despite this, he was still recognized as the King, and his people well took care of his needs. The imperialist government demoted his son, King Dinizulu, but his people did not heed the demotion. Neither did they recognize it. To them, he remained Isilo Samabandla.
It was during his reign that the government introduced the notion of a stipend to the King. This was so after the colonial government had taken away all the governance power from the King.
The notion of the stipend to the King in KwaZulu-Natal continues to this day. From the time of the KwaZulu government, the affairs of the Royal family were administrated in the office of the then Chief Minister and later under the present democratic dispensation in the office of the Premier.
For a long time, the Royal family was therefore dealt with as if it was an extension of government functions. For instance, public works would take care of the maintenance of the palaces while the Department of Agriculture took care of the Royal Farms.
While this system was not outright bad, its shortcomings were soon exposed by several legal prescripts. It became evident that an appropriate budget had to be in place so that proper accountability had to be ensured. This led to the establishment of the Department of the Royal Household in the Premier’s office, after 1994. While the formation of the Department was a noble step, however, it continues to be faced with numerous challenges legal, hence, a Zulu Royal House Trust was formed.
Wives of the late King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu:
Zulu Royal Family Of The Late King Zwelithini And Current King Misuzulu
- HRH, Queen Sibongile Winifred maDlamini Zulu, married on 27 December 1969 at St Margaret’s Church, Nongoma – KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace
- HRH, Queen Buhle Nokuthula kaMathe Zulu, in May 1996, she and her daughter were seriously wounded in an assault during which they were clubbed, stabbed, and shot – KwaDlamahlahla Royal Palace
- HRH, Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi maDlamini Zulu, born 1956, daughter of Sobhuza Il of Swaziland and sister of Mswati Ill, married 1973. A condition for this marriage was that she became the first wife, which determines the king’s successor – KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace
- HRH, Queen Thandi Jane maNdlovu Zulu, married in 1988 – KwaLinduzulu Royal Palace
- HRH, Queen Nompumelelo maMchiza, married on 25 July 1992 – Enyokeni Royal Palace
- HRH, Queen Zola Zelusiwe kaMafu Zulu, married in 2014 – Ondini Royal Palace
Wives of the current King Misuzulu kaZwelithini:
- HRH, Queen Ntokozo kaMayisela
- HRH, Queen Nomzamo MaMyeni
King Goodwill Zwelithini’s Children
Here is the list of Zulu Princes and Princesses in no particular order
PRINCES |
PRINCESSES |
| Lethukuthula Zulu (Late) | Nombuso Zulu |
| Simakade Zulu | Ntombizosuthu Zulu |
| Nhlanganiso Zulu | Ntandoyenkosi Zulu |
| Phumuzuzulu Zulu | Snethemba Zulu |
| Butho Zulu (Late) | Sibusile Zulu |
| Buzabazi Zulu | Nandi Zulu |
| Sihlobosenkosi Zulu | Khonzinkosi Zulu |
| Sibusiso Zulu | Thandeka Zulu |
| Bambindlovu Zulu | Ntantoyesizwe Zulu |
| Lungelo Zulu | Nomkhosi Zulu |
| Mandlesizwe Zulu | Bukhosibemvelo Zulu |
| Simengaye Zulu | Mukelile Zulu |
| Masiko Zulu | Nqobangothando Zulu |
| Bizwekhaya Zulu | Cebolenkosi Zulu |
| Sihlangusenkosi Zulu | |
| Kwazikwenkosi Zulu | |
| Nhlanganoye-Afrika Zulu | |
| Nhlendlayenkosi Zulu | |
| Misuzulu Sinqobile Zulu |
King Misuzulu’s Children
Here is the list of Zulu Princes and Princesses in no particular order
PRINCES |
PRINCESSES |
| Jubezizweni Zwelibanzi | Tensindiso Smezwini |
| Lwandle Thandayena | Nokukhanya Nqobile |
| Ntsikelelo Mandulo | Nothando |