Zulu royal family shocked by news of King Zwelithini’s ‘love child’

By Celani Sikhakhane

The Zulu royal family has been shocked by a Gauteng teacher claiming to be the first-born son of the late King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, while they know him as belonging to the Nkabinde family.

This comes after Malanga Nkabinde of kwaMashu told the story City Press newspaper that he is the first-born son of the late king, with Zodwa Nzimande-Nkabinde, and was born on December 23, 1966.

Nkabinde wants the KwaZulu-Natal government to give him the official list of King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu’s children to verify if his name is there – and he wants a share of King Zwelithini’s estate.

King Zwelithini’s brother, Prince Mbonisi kaBhekuzulu, said they know the teacher as a Nkabinde.

“We are shocked by his claims because we know the man as Nkabinde. We went to the same school with him at King Bhekuzulu High in Nongoma. Until today he was a Nkabinde. Why is he coming out with these claims now? Maybe the best person to explain it is his mother. Call her because she lives in KwaMashu,” Prince Mbonisi said.

He said he knows all the children of his brother King Zwelithini, even those born out of wedlock, but said Nkabinde is not one of them.

Scrolla.Africa has learned that Nkabinde once claimed that the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi wanted to kill him over his claims after he survived a shooting incident some years ago.

Buthelezi’s son Prince Zuzifa told it Scrolla.Africa that they know nothing about Nkabinde and that their father has never said anything about him.

“Why are you giving me a joke on Sunday? My father would have informed me if anyone came to him claiming to be the child of the late king. And why is this man only coming out now?” Buthelezi asked.

Nkabinde’s son, Ndalo said Scrolla.Africa that his father spoke to him about the matter and that he was confused and shocked.

“He spoke to me about this in 2020 and I had to go and ask his mother, who is my grandmother, in kwaMashu. Gogo denied all these claims made by my father. I called Prince Mbonisi about this and he advised that we should do a DNA test, but we never did. As this matter is now in the public domain, I am committed to doing so quickly to uncover the truth,” Ndalo said.

A royal family source revealed that there are now five people claiming to be the late king’s children.

One of them is the Durban businessman whose name has not been released and a woman from eMpangeni, near Richards Bay.

The source said she came to King Misuzulu’s mother, Queen Regent Mantfombi, and introduced herself while King Zwelithini was still alive, and she was accepted.

Pictured above: Gauteng teacher Malanga Nkabinde, who claims to be King Zwelithini’s eldest son.

Image source: supplied