DURBAN - THE lawyers for Prince Simakade Zulu, of the Zulu royal family, have written to the Presidency to ask President Cyril Ramaphosa to provide the reasons that prompted his decision to announce King Misuzulu kaZwelithini as heir to the Zulu throne this month.
In the lawyer’s letter, a request is also made for Ramaphosa to release the report on the mediation process undertaken by the government following disagreements in the royal household after the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini last year.
The prince is the late king’s firstborn, and some had suggested that he should be considered his successor.
In a letter dated March 18, the prince’s legal representatives Hammann-Moosa Incorporated gave the president 14 days in which to respond to their client’s demands.
Attorney Johann Hammann confirmed that they had written to the president’s office.
He said they wrote to the president’s office on March 18 but that letter was not acknowledged and they wrote another letter last week which was acknowledged by the office.
The list of demands include:
♦ Providing the report prepared by the mediation panel that was led by former KZN premier Willies Mchunu.
♦ Providing the record of proceedings including all memoranda, reports, minutes of meetings, letters and other documents relating to the royal family’s decision to appoint Prince Misuzulu kaZwelithini Zulu as the king of the amaZulu.
♦ Providing the full record of proceedings, including all memoranda, reports, minutes of meetings, letters and other documents used by Ramaphosa to come to his decision.
♦ Providing a copy of the full list of all the people consulted by the president to reach his decision, as well as copies of any submissions, written or otherwise, made by them. The legal representatives argued that while the investigation had been concluded, the report had not been released and this was resulting in continued uncertainty in relation to the succession matter, and among the Zulu nation.
The lawyers gave the president until April 5 to respond.
Attempts to get comment from the president’s office were unsuccessful yesterday.