By Celani Sikhakhane
- Princess Londiwe Ngcamu says the royal family rejected a proposal by Princess Nondumiso Zulu to make King Misuzulu kaZwelithini a Stella Artois brand ambassador.
- The family feared the move would deepen the damage from the King’s viral video, which drew criticism from Sonke Gender Justice over remarks made towards Queen Nomzamo kaMyeni.
A member of the Zulu royal family reportedly proposed that King Misuzulu kaZwelithini be made a brand ambassador for Stella Artois, after the beer’s popularity surged in South Africa following his viral video, a proposal other royals quickly rejected.
Princess Nondumiso Zulu made the proposal during a royal family meeting in July, but was turned down by other members, who said it would further damage the Zulu Kingdom’s image, given the public’s association of Stella Artois with the video and gender-based violence.
The details were shared by Princess Londiwe Ngcamu on Tuesday, discussing recent tensions within the royal court.
Ngcamu was previously aligned with Prince Simakade kaZwelithini’s camp during the succession dispute over the throne, but has since moved to support King Misuzulu.
“Princess Nondumiso made the proposal during the meeting, where she suggested that the Stella Artois company should make His Majesty their brand ambassador, because they have benefited a lot from his viral video. She even suggested they should donate something to the Zulu Kingdom, such as vehicles, because they gained a lot of customers and revenue through the King.
“I was the one who got angry about this proposal, and I told the meeting we cannot condone this, because the incident caused so much outrage against the Monarch. I said the Stella Artois issue cannot be associated with the Zulu Monarch, because it represents GBV in the eyes of the public, after those utterances against Queen Nomzamo kaMyeni,” Princess Londiwe said.
She said she had also been planning to have music industry figure Nota Baloyi apologise to the King over disrespectful remarks he made about him during the Stella Artois saga, plans that were later disrupted.
The video, which showed the King drinking Stella Artois while confronting Queen Nomzamo at Khangelamankengane Royal Palace and ordering her to leave, sparked national controversy.
Sonke Gender Justice publicly raised concern, describing the King’s language as reflective of “intimate partner violence and misogyny” and calling for accountable leadership across public office, traditional authority and the home.
The controversy resurfaced this past weekend when the King appeared to reference his own viral video during a Reed Dance address on gender-based violence, drawing a smirk and renewed public debate over whether the moment was appropriate.
Princess Nondumiso Zulu, a long-time and vocal supporter of King Misuzulu during the earlier succession dispute with Prince Simakade, could not be reached for comment. South African Breweries directed Scrolla.Africa to Stella Artois Marketing Manager Blaire Jorgensen; several attempts to reach Jorgensen for comment were unsuccessful by time of publication.
Pictured above: King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, whose royal aunt reportedly wanted him made a Stella Artois brand ambassador.
Image source: KZN GOV/Facebook Page
