The battle for the Zulu royal family throne took a new twist this week when one of Prince Misuzulu Zulu's brothers, Prince Nhlanganiso Zulu, pledged his support for a court case challenging the incoming king's legitimacy.
This is despite assurances by the Zulu traditional prime minister, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, that the royal family supported Prince Misuzulu's installation as king of the Zulus.
Prince Nhlanganiso has filed an affidavit in support of an urgent application by his sisters, Princess Ntandoyenkosi Zulu and Princess Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Duma, to interdict Prince Misuzulu's coronation.
On Friday the Pietermaritzburg high court adjourned the matter for it to be consolidated with their initial application, which includes their mother, Queen Sibongile Winifred Zulu, which challenges the validity of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini's will. They claim his signature may have been forged. No date was set for the next hearing.
Zulu royal household spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu said the court's decision meant the coronation could go ahead.
"They tried to stop the coronation. They were not granted that, so it doesn't stop us from doing whatever we want," he said.
Prince Nhlanganiso, the son of King Zwelithini and his second wife, Queen Buhle kaMathe, was among the candidates tipped to take over the biggest monarchy in Southern Africa.
He has a public profile, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, as a former player in the Premier Soccer League team AmaZulu FC and as a TB ambassador.
The princesses are challenging the authenticity of King Zwelithini's will. He had nominated Prince Misuzulu's mother, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, as his successor.
Queen Mantfombi, who died on April 29, bequeathed the throne to her son, Prince Misuzulu.
The princesses want the premier of KwaZulu-Natal to be interdicted and restrained from recognising any steps which may be reasonably construed as recognising Prince Misuzulu as the Zulu king.
In the event that the premier has completed all processes to recognise Prince Misuzulu as king, they want President Cyril Ramaphosa to be restrained from issuing the certificate of recognition to him.
Princess Ntandoyenkosi said King Zwelithini's "disputed will" that nominated Queen Mantfombi to the throne was suspected to be fraudulent and subject to litigation.
The queen was therefore not in a position to nominate Prince Misuzulu as king.
In his affidavit, Prince Nhlanganiso identifies himself as a relative of the late king and a beneficiary of the last will and testament that is being challenged in court.
"I have seen the report of the handwriting expert, which concludes the signature on the aforementioned will is not that of the late . King Goodwill Zwelithini Zulu," he says.
On the basis of the report, he supports the princesses' court bid, he says in his affidavit.
Approached for comment this week, he said he was busy and could not comment.
Cultural expert Maxwell Shamase told the Sunday Times that Prince Nhlanganiso's move to support "any move to stop the coronation" could be because he was aggrieved about the choice of the next king.
"But Prince Nhlanganiso has no claim to the throne because he belongs to the left house, according to Zulu customs and traditions," he said.
Buthelezi said in a statement on Friday night that he had no comment on the matter and was not aware that Prince Nhlanganiso was supporting the court bid.
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