Royal runaway: Zuma's daughter flees Eswatini palace after just months of marriage
King Mswati III's 16th wife and former South African president Jacob Zuma's daughter, Nomcebo Zuma, is said to have abandoned her royal marriage to the Eswatini monarch.
The king's 22-year-old junior wife, known as Inkhosikati LaZuma in the tiny kingdom, is said to have left the palace, allegedly complaining that she could no longer bear being in a polygamous marriage where she 'goes for months without seeing her husband'.
The ruler of the last remaining absolute monarchy in Africa has already been married 15 times and fathered 36 children.
Eswatini ruler King Mswati III, left, and Jacob Zuma with his daughter Nomcebo. Pictures: Mohd Rasfan/ AFP and X/ @DZumaSambudla
As Zuma's daughter, Nomcebo is, of course, no stranger to polygamy — with her 82-year-old Zulu father boasting six wives and at least 20 children.
Sources close to the palace claim that Nomcebo nevertheless struggled with the high emotional toll of King Mswati's polygamous lifestyle.
King Mswati's 'Wife No 12': Nomcebo Zuma
Nomcebo became King Mswati's 'Wife No 12' after appearing at the annual uMhlanga Reed Dance ceremony as the new inkhosikati ('queen') of the 56-year-old king in September 2024.
Jacob Zuma's daughter, Nomcebo, left, is pictured singing while marching during the 2024 Umhlanga Reed Dance ceremony at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence on Monday, 2 September 2024. Picture: Emmanuel Croset/ AFP
Soon thereafter, his young bride accompanied the ruler on a lavish R200-million state trip overseas.
The Citizen previously reported that the lobola for Nomcebo amounted to a staggering R2 million and 100 head of cattle.
[PHOTOS]: His Majesty King Mswati III and Liphovela LaZuma have arrived safely in Samoa, where His Majesty is expected to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). pic.twitter.com/ZkmjSbQopE — Eswatini Government (@EswatiniGovern1) October 24, 2024
ALSO READ: Precious time: Nomcebo Zuma flaunts R3.9m watch on first state trip with King Mswati
King Mswati dispatches royal envoy to Nkandla
In an attempt to deal with this rare challenge to Eswatini's royal marital customs, a delegation of royal negotiators has been dispatched to Zuma's Nxamalala homestead in Nkandla, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
In line with Swazi tradition, when a wife disappears – a practice known as kwemuka – the husband sends a delegation to her family to plead for her return.
Why is Zuma 'refusing to meet' with delegation?
The Eswatini-based publication Swaziland News, however, cited insiders' claims that the royal delegation has been camped out in Nkandla for days while the former president has allegedly refused to even greet them.
According to the sources, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader told the envoy that he had never supported the marriage from the start, but only went along with it because his daughter was insistent.
King Mswati III, Nomcebo Zuma and her father, Jacob Zuma. Picture: X
Reporting on the lobola negotiations last year, Sunday World stated that Zuma was under the impression that King Mswati wanted his son, who is in his 30s, to marry his young daughter.
During the negotiations, however, it came to light that the king himself was eyeing Nomcebo as the latest addition to his own cohort of wives.
ALSO READ: The luxury life of King Mswati III: Eswatini monarch arrives in SA in 'flying palace'
Eswatini ties with Zulu monarchy and Jacob Zuma
There are strong traditional ties between Eswatini and South Africa's Zulu monarchy, with the current Zulu King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini being Mswati III's nephew.
Zuma and Mswati are also already relatives through marriage.
So far, neither the Zuma family nor Eswatini's royal palace has issued an official statement.
READ NOW: Is daughter's marriage to King Mswati a 'strategic political move' by Zuma camp?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
12 minutes ago
- IOL News
Ebrahim Rasool supports Ramaphosa's cautious approach to US ambassador appointment
Former South African Ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Former South African Ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool says President Cyril Ramaphosa is correct to be cautious in appointing a new ambassador after Rasool was expelled from the US. In an exclusive interview with Independent Media at the G20 Interfaith Forum (IF20) in Cape Town, Rasool said the question the country must ask itself is whether it wants to go through the embarrassment of nominating an ambassador, and then having them wait, which was the original plan by the Republicans with him. Rasool said he was fortunate to have been credentialed by former US President Joe Biden in his last week of office. 'The question is, do we want to go through that embarrassment of the US making our ambassador stay in limbo for a few months, and then because we have nominally appointed an ambassador, it cuts other channels of communication. 'This (current) state shows that you can still pick up the phone, without going through the embassy. That is the one reason why it is correct to be cautious. The second reason is that you cannot allow the US to choose our ambassador to their country for themselves, because what you then do is that you get an echo chamber…then we have someone who goes 'Yes, Mr Trump, you are right'.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'Thirdly, if you choose even a mildly independent ambassador, you will not find such a person of integrity who, at some point or other, did not express disquiet about the direction of the United States under President Trump.' On Mcebisi Jonas, President Cyril Ramaphosa's special envoy to the United States, who was rejected by Washington in May this year, Rasool said: 'Here is an astute business person, but his astuteness economically is also his astuteness politically, and therefore, you won't find a clean slate in terms of that.' On who could replace the vacant position, he said that 'because people say a white skin can more easily go into the White House, (I've thought) that if you can find a white person with the right values, and in that regard, I threw out the name Marthinus van Schalkwyk. 'Someone whose growth from the National Party to the ANC I have watched, and I think that not him per se, but that that is the kind of person that we can use to satisfy two things - the love of a white skin in the White House, and the values that our country needs presently,' Rasool said. Rasool also commented on South Africa's current relationship with the US, which he said is not isolated because countries like India and Brazil, and the European Union (EU), are also experiencing bullying from the US. 'South Africa's relationship with the United States has a particular tint to it, but it is not atypical. Sometimes South Africans think that it is only done unto us, when you look at what President Trump has done to Brazil, because a buddy of his, (former President) Jair Bolsonaro, has been charged with corruption. 'You think what he has done to India, because it allegedly buys oil from Russia, if you look at what he has done to the EU because they don't spend as much on their defence as they should - then South Africa is just one of a few that he has put into his cross-hairs, and where he is driving a hard agenda - a pernicious and punishing agenda against such countries. 'We are, in a sense, in good company when we consider who else he has put in his cross hairs. The question is not to watch South Africa, as if South Africa is isolated, it is to watch the growing isolation of the United States of America.
TimesLIVE
12 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
'Last year this time my dreams were shattered': Chidimma looks back on Miss SA exit
Former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina has reflected on her journey at the pageant, a year after her withdrawal. The 24-year-old reigning Miss Universe Africa and Oceania withdrew from the competition after controversy surrounding her nationality. She moved on to compete for Miss Universe Nigeria, where she won. In an Instagram story, Adetshina shared a video from last year, dated August 12, four days after she stepped down, captioned: 'Last year, on this day, my dream was shattered in front of my eyes, but I'm grateful for this journey.' The beauty queen, who was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother who allegedly stole someone's identity, faced intense scrutiny and online attacks, with many questioning her identity. The department of home affairs found prima facie evidence suggesting fraud and identity theft may have been committed by Adetshina's mother when she obtained her South African citizenship in 2001. Meanwhile, Adetshina sparked controversy recently after it was reported she was back in South Africa. Operation Dudula confirmed she is in Cape Town and called for her deportation. 'This goes against South African immigration laws, which clearly state anyone found to have used another person's identity — directly or indirectly — is liable for deportation,' Operation Dudula said. It suggested home affairs was misleading the public with 'fake' removals. 'Instead of ensuring our laws are upheld, home affairs appears to be conducting fake deportations that give the public a false sense of action. Many of these so-called 'removals' seem to be temporary arrests followed by quiet releases.'
The South African
12 minutes ago
- The South African
Cristiano Ronaldo puts a ring on it: See the massive engagement ring
After nearly a decade of romance, football icon Cristiano Ronaldo is officially engaged to his long-term partner, Georgina Rodriguez. Rodriguez, 31, confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Monday, showcasing a dazzling diamond ring on her finger as it gently rests on Ronaldo's hand. She captioned the photo: 'Yes I do. In this and in all my lives.' The announcement was met with a wave of congratulations from fans, celebrities, and fellow athletes around the world. A Love Story Nine Years in the Making The couple's journey began in 2016, when Rodriguez was working as a sales assistant at a Gucci store in Madrid. Their chance meeting quickly blossomed into one of football's most high-profile relationships. Together, they have built a family, raising their two daughters – Alana Martina, 7, and Bella Esmeralda, 3. Ronaldo also has three other children from previous surrogacy arrangements, with Rodriguez often referring to all of them as 'our kids' in interviews and social media posts. Now 40, Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong on the field. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner recently extended his contract with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2027. His career move to Saudi Arabia has also seen Rodriguez and the family settle into life in the Middle East, where they continue to attract global media attention. While no wedding date has been announced yet, fans are already speculating about where the ceremony might take place – with options ranging from Portugal to Dubai. After nearly a decade, five children, and a life lived largely in the public eye, the engagement marks a significant and joyous milestone for one of sport's most famous couples. Congratulations Cristiano and Georgina! Post your congratulations below, by … Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
