Former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter Nomcebo Zuma, 21, has been asked for her hand in marriage by King Mswati III. This file picture shows then-president Zuma and King Mswati III at Lozitha Palace during the closing ceremony of the 36th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government in the Kingdom of Swaziland. Picture: GCIS
THE daughter of former president Jacob Zuma could soon get married to the monarch of eSwatini, King Mswati III.
Nomcebo Zuma, 21, has been asked for her hand in marriage by the King of eSwatini.
She will be introduced to the king’s mother in the coming weeks and unveiled to the nation during the Reed Dance in eSwatini. Public reports state that the tentative date for the Reed Dance this year is September 2.
A delegation made up of senior members of eSwatini and Zulu Royal families visited Zuma’s homestead in Nkandla last week to present 10 cattle as part of “kucela” customary practice.
A Zulu royal family member and King Misuzulu’s spokesperson, Prince Simphiwe Zulu, confirmed that he was part of the eSwatini delegation, adding that the negotiations went well.
“We were there on Tuesday last week. I cannot speak in detail of the ceremony as that was the event of the Ngwane (eSwatini king’s delegation).
“We had just escorted them, because the king of eSwatini did not want to be in the kingdom of the Zulu nation without alerting the king of the Amazulu.
“As for the event, I believe that it went well,” said the prince, confirming that the event took place at Zuma’s homestead in Nkandla.
The news of Nomcebo marrying King Mswati first broke out on the eSwatini online publication, Swaziland News.
According to the eSwatini-based publication, the former president did not look favourably at these developments and had refused to meet the delegation as he felt betrayed by his “friend”.
Another source familiar with the eSwatini royal family matters said “Zuma felt betrayed by King Mswati as he had initially informed Zuma that he wanted his daughter to marry in the royal family. It was only later that the former president became aware that King Mswati wanted Nomcebo for himself.”
Further reports have surfaced from the same Swaziland publication, stating that immigration records are suggesting that Nomcebo had become a frequent traveller to the landlocked kingdom.
When asked about the eSwatini delegation visiting the Zuma homestead, Zuma’s son Edward said no such meeting took place.
“We know nothing about what you are saying. The former president has been in Johannesburg and I have not seen him for a while.
“For the past two weekends there have not been any events at the family home.
“We recently had a funeral at this home,” said Edward.
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