By Rorisang Modiba
- Nomcebo Zuma left her marriage to King Mswati III after months without seeing him.
- King reportedly paid R2-million lobola and 100 cattle for Jacob Zuma’s daughter, who became his 16th wife in September 2024.
Nomcebo Zuma has walked out on King Mswati III after months of being ignored by her husband.
The 22-year-old daughter of former president Jacob Zuma has returned to South Africa after not seeing her royal husband for months.
The young bride became the king’s 16th wife during the Umhlanga Reed Dance ceremony in September 2024. But sources say she couldn’t take being abandoned any longer.
According to Swaziland News, the separation has created concern within the royal family. A delegation has travelled to the Zuma homestead in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, to try to persuade her to return.
The marriage was meant to be a significant cultural alliance between the Zuma family and Eswatini’s royal household. Palace officials described it as being “for love”.
But Nomcebo’s departure has exposed the reality of being married to a king with 15 other wives.
King Mswati, now 56, has often faced criticism for neglecting his wives while living a rich lifestyle. About 70% of Eswatini’s population lives below the poverty line.
The royal couple made headlines in October 2024 when they met Pope Francis at the Vatican during a R200-million three-country tour. They had a private 30-minute meeting and toured St Peter’s Basilica.
But even then, cracks were showing. Jacob Zuma refused to approve the marriage and didn’t attend his daughter’s engagement or wedding.
King Mswati reportedly paid lobola of R2-million and 100 head of cattle for Nomcebo.
However, Nomcebo’s mother, Nonkululeko maMhlongo-Zuma, was in full support of the union. She attended the engagement ceremony at the Reed Dance where King Mswati crowned Nomcebo with the feather of a purple-crested turaco, Eswatini’s national bird.
A source said maMhlongo was very happy to see her youngest daughter being declared as liphovela, the royal fiancée.
“It was a celebration mood when His Majesty crowned Nomcebo with the feather. Former president Zuma was not there since he is said to be very angry about the whole thing. But maMhlongo was very supportive and happy,” the source said.
Nomcebo, a third-year university student, had taken a break from her studies to focus on royal duties.
This isn’t the first time the Zuma family has made unions with Swatis. Zuma’s nephew Khulubuse is married to a Swati woman, and Zuma himself was once married to Mina Shongwe from Eswatini.
Neither the Zuma family nor Eswatini’s royal palace has released an official statement about the separation.
Pictured above: Nomcebo Zuma and King Mswati.
Image source: @nomcebozumaaaaa
