South Africa’s Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has expressed “deep regret” after a leaked video showing him verbally abusing one of his wives sparked widespread public criticism and debate across the country.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media this week, shows the monarch directing a stream of insults at his third wife, Queen Nomzamo Myeni, accusing her of infidelity, threatening to physically assault her and demanding that she leave their home.
The queen, who appears to be recording the incident, remains silent for most of the video before saying: “This is the life I live, day and night.”
In a statement released on Friday, the king’s office acknowledged that the footage had caused “pain” and “embarrassment” to the royal family and the wider Zulu nation.
The palace said the recordings were “historical in nature” and did not reflect the current state of the royal household.
“It is important to clarify that the recordings are historical in nature and do not represent the present circumstances within the Royal Household,” the statement said.
According to the palace, King Misuzulu and Queen Myeni were carrying out official engagements together on the same day the video emerged, hosting visiting politicians as part of their public duties. The statement described their current relationship as one marked by “reconciliation” and “reflection.”
During the recording, the king criticises Queen Myeni for leaving home without informing him, insisting that wives should seek their husband’s permission before travelling.
“She’s out there without my permission. When you’re a wife, you ask for permission. At least let your husband know,” he says.
The king also tells the queen he has another girlfriend waiting for him before ordering her to leave the house.
Queen Myeni became King Misuzulu’s third wife after their marriage last November.
It remains unclear who leaked the footage.
The video has divided public opinion in South Africa. Critics accused the monarch of abusive and undignified behaviour, while others argued that private family disputes should not have been made public.
Journalist Asanda Magaqa defended the queen’s decision to document the incident, writing on X that while recording private moments is not ideal, “watching that video, I understand why she felt compelled to record it.”
“No woman deserves to live like that,” she added.
The footage also includes remarks by the king claiming he became monarch through witchcraft, reviving controversy surrounding his succession.
King Misuzulu ascended to the Zulu throne after the death of his father, King Goodwill Zwelithini, following a prolonged legal dispute within the royal family over the legitimacy of his claim and the late king’s will.
Although the Zulu king holds a largely ceremonial position within South Africa’s constitutional system, he remains one of the country’s most influential traditional leaders and oversees a government-funded royal institution worth millions of dollars annually.
The controversy has also renewed attention on gender relations in South Africa, where traditional patriarchal customs remain influential in many communities. The country continues to grapple with one of the world’s highest rates of gender-based violence, which the government last year described as a national disaster.
King Misuzulu’s marriage to Queen Myeni was itself delayed by legal challenges from his first wife, Queen Ntokozo kaMayisela, who sought to block the wedding by arguing it would amount to bigamy under their civil marriage. A South African court ultimately dismissed the case, ruling that she had previously accepted the king’s right to enter into additional traditional marriages.