Zulu king apologizes after video shows tirade against his wife

Zulu king Misuzulu kaZwelithini issued a public apology on Monday after a video circulated widely across South Africa showing him threatening to physically assault his wife and accusing her of infidelity, triggering a wave of condemnation from women’s rights organizations and political figures across the country.

What the video shows

The footage, which spread rapidly on WhatsApp and X over the weekend, appears to have been recorded inside a private residence. In it, King Misuzulu can be heard raising his voice at Queen Ntokozo Mayisela, threatening to hit her and making accusations of cheating. The clip runs just under two minutes but contains enough to shock many South Africans who watched it. It’s unclear who recorded the video or how it ended up in public circulation.

By Sunday evening, the clip had been viewed millions of times across multiple platforms.

The palace responds

The Royal Household issued a written statement on Monday morning confirming the king’s regret. “His Majesty deeply regrets the language used and the manner in which he expressed himself,” the statement read. “He acknowledges that such conduct falls below the standards expected of him as a leader and as a husband.”

The statement did not address the specific allegations made in the video, nor did it provide any context for what triggered the exchange. Palace officials declined further comment when contacted by reporters on Monday afternoon.

Anger and calls for accountability

But the apology didn’t satisfy everyone. The Commission for Gender Equality released a statement calling on relevant authorities to investigate whether any laws had been violated. The African National Congress Women’s League also weighed in, saying that no title or position exempts any man from the obligations of the Domestic Violence Act.

Women’s rights groups noted that threats of physical violence, even if not carried out, can constitute a criminal offence under South African law. The country records some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world, with more than 10,000 sexual offences reported to police in the first quarter of 2024 alone.

Still, some community leaders and traditional authority figures urged caution, arguing that private marital disputes should not be adjudicated in the court of public opinion.

A monarchy under scrutiny

King Misuzulu, who ascended to the Zulu throne in 2022 following years of succession disputes after his father King Goodwill Zwelithini’s death, has faced persistent questions about his leadership. His reign has been marked by internal tensions within the royal family and legal challenges over the legitimacy of his coronation.

This latest incident adds another layer of difficulty to an already complicated public image.

It’s not yet known whether Queen Ntokozo has spoken publicly about the video or intends to do so. Her representatives had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday evening. How the palace manages the fallout in the coming days will likely determine whether this story fades or deepens into something far more damaging for the monarchy.