By Celani Sikhakhane
- Senior royals pushed to have Ndamase removed over allegations he was advancing a political party’s agenda inside the Zulu Royal Household, which the King rejected.
- King Misuzulu told a royal meeting in Pongola on Tuesday that Ndamase will stay on and help transition the palace to its new structure.
Nododile Ndamase still has a job at the Zulu Royal Household. That was not a certainty going into Tuesday’s meeting at eMashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola, north of KwaZulu-Natal.
Ndamase had faced pressure from within the royal household to be pushed out. He was accused of using his position inside the King’s Private Office to advance a political party’s agenda inside the monarchy. The King rejected those allegations.
On Tuesday, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini made his position plain. He told senior royals gathered at the palace that Ndamase is staying.
“I will not remove Ndamase from the Royal court. He will have other duties and continue to be the servant of the Monarch,” the King said.
Ndamase will assist the newly appointed Secretary to the King, Prince Khishwengubani of eGazini Royal House, for two to three months while the transition beds down.
The King also flagged a wider problem. Senior positions inside the royal household have sat empty since the death of key figures who served under the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. He said those gaps need to be filled.
Prime Minister Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi and other senior members of the Zulu royal family attended the meeting.
Pictured above: King Misuzulu kaZwelithini with former Private Office Chief Director Nododile Ndamase in London.
Image source: Zulu Royal Kingdom
