APA-Pretoria (South Africa) President Cyril Ramaphosa will appeal a North Gauteng High Court decision to set aside his official recognition and crowning of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini of the Zulu nation following the death of his father three years ago, the presidency has said.
In a statement on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya said the president decided to appeal following his study of the judgment which High Court judge Norman Davis delivered on Monday.
Handing down his judgment, Davis said Misuzulu’s recognition contained in the Government Gazette of 17 March 2022 should be set aside because it was “unlawful and invalid.”
Apart from ordering the president to set aside his decision to recognise and crown Misuzulu, the president should set up an investigative committee to probe allegations of violations of customary laws in the identification of Misuzulu as king of the Zulu nation, Davis ordered.
“Following a study of the judgement, the president will apply for leave to appeal against the judgement,” Magwenya said.
He added: “During the course of these legal processes, His Majesty King Misuzulu remains the identified heir to the throne.”
Ramaphosa officially handed over a certificate of recognition to the young king in October last year.
Misuzulu succeeded his father, the King Goodwill Zwelithini, to the throne of South Africa’s Zulu nation following his death in 2021.
NM/jn/APA