“He felt betrayed”… Jacob Zuma storms out of lobola negotiations as Mswati eyes his daughter as 16th wife
Former South African President Jacob Zuma allegedly stormed out of lobola negotiations when a delegation of eSwatini royals came to ask for his 21-year-old daughter Nomcebo’s hand in marriage on behalf of his 56-year-old friend King Mswati III.
Zuma, a notorious polygamist himself, was livid at the prospect of the union, as he reportedly had been led to believe by Mswati that his daughter (pictured) would be married to one of his sons.
According to the Mercury 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.
However, according to Sunday World, Zuma reportedly left his residence in a huff after learning of their mission.
“I’ve never seen uNxamalala (Zuma) losing it like that. He tried to hide it, but you could tell that he was angry.
“He just stood up and said seniyosala niqhubeka bafana bakithi (I won’t be a part of this, you will have to carry on without me, my brothers). He then left, leaving all of us shocked,” an insider speaking on condition of anonymity revealed.
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.”
This would not be the first time that Zuma’s family and the Swati royal family are romantically linked.
Zuma once dated one of King Mswati’s sisters, princess Sebentile Dlamini, but never married her after he sent a delegation with a reported 50 cattle to introduce him as her suitor in 2002.
In October 2017, Zuma’s son, Mxolisi, married Princess Ziyanda Dlamini as his second wife. Mxolisi paid 120 cattle for his bride, who is the daughter of Prince Fanyana Dlamini.
King Mswati reportedly first saw Nomcebo during celebrations called 55-55 that were held last year. It is understood that 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.
Meanwhile, all is not well in the eSwatini monarch’s own household, as his wives are reportedly unhappy that he is set to marry again.
According to Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini, one of the king’s wives had leaked information of the impending union to the media.
“One of the king’s wives is my source of the story; she leaked the information to me because she is not happy that his majesty has decided to take a new wife as he is failing to take good care of the ones he already has,” Dlamini said.