Zuma’s Daughter Walks Out on King Mswati: “I Haven’t Seen My Husband in Months”

Nkandla, South Africa — The youngest wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini has reportedly walked out of her marriage, citing loneliness and the challenges of polygamy.

Inkhosikati Nomcebo Zuma, 22, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, left the royal palace and returned to her family home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, after months of apparent emotional strain.

“I haven’t seen my husband in months,” Nomcebo reportedly told family members, according to sources close to the matter. She is said to have grown frustrated with the King’s prolonged absences and the realities of being one of many wives.

Nomcebo married King Mswati, 56, in September 2024 during the Umhlanga Reed Dance, a traditional ceremony where the monarch often selects new brides. The union drew widespread attention across southern Africa not only because of the King’s profile, but also due to the high standing of the Zuma family.

Eswatini is one of the last absolute monarchies in the world. King Mswati has 11 wives and more than 50 children. His rule has often made headlines for its extravagance, even as many Swazis live in poverty.

Nomcebo’s departure, locally referred to as kwemuka (when a wife leaves her marital home), triggered a customary response. A royal delegation has been dispatched to Nkandla in an attempt to mediate with her family and encourage her return a long-standing tradition in Eswatini’s culture.

Neither the Zuma family nor the Eswatini royal household has issued a formal statement. However, an aide to the royal household, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the delegation’s mission, saying, “There is hope that reconciliation will happen, but the Queen must be willing.”

The young bride, who has reportedly struggled with the strict expectations of royal life, is said to have also felt isolated in the palace. Life in the royal compound, while privileged, comes with layers of protocol, security, and limited personal freedom particularly for the women.

Critics of the monarchy argue that such traditions are outdated and place women in disempowering roles. Supporters, on the other hand, view the King’s marriages as part of long-standing cultural norms.

The situation continues to unfold quietly, but it has once again placed a spotlight on the personal cost of royal duty especially for young women brought into such high-profile unions.

Whether Nomcebo will return remains uncertain. For now, her move has stirred fresh conversations across the region about choice, culture, and the place of women in modern-day monarchies.

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