Mampondo kaNdamase also known as Lelethu has publicly confronted King Misuzulu Sinqobile Hlomesakhishlangu kaZwelithini over allegations involving his conduct towards women, as she shared a video of the Zulu monarch and renewed calls for accountability.
Her intervention comes after receiving messages and emails from women accusing the King of GBV related allegations. As well as the previously leaked video involving Misuzulu and his wife, Queen Nomzamo Myeni, caused widespread controversy in July. In the footage, a man identified by the royal household as the king is heard insulting the queen, accusing her of infidelity, threatening to assault her and saying he wanted her out of the royal household. The royal office later described the recordings as historical and said they did not reflect the current situation in the household.
Misuzulu also acknowledged that some of his words during the incident fell short of the standards expected of a monarch and expressed remorse.
But Mampondo’s latest post has pushed the controversy into another territory, with claims from women allegedly reaching her privately.
‘Accountability cannot be selective’
In a lengthy caption accompanying a video here the king is on a video call allegedly with her flashing a sharp knife, Mampondo directly addressed the king.
“To the man I’ve ducked and dodged most of the time, I’m saying this plainly: accountability for GBVF cannot be selective. No title, position or status should place anyone above the responsibility to account for conduct that concerns violence or the dignity of women.”
She went further, warning that the public should not dismiss behaviour towards women simply because the person involved is a traditional leader.
“Tell him if he does not apologise and take accountability for conduct that has been described as threatening towards women, the lady oVideorizayo will cut through the excuses – not with a knife, but with the truth,” she wrote.
“The same hand that is seen threatening women must never be normalised as a joke when GBVF is such a serious national crisis.”
Mampondo also responded to the king’s reported words, writing in isiXhosa:
“Andimfuni nje umntu oyinkosi ngenxa yesithsaba. Sifuna indoda enesidima, enoxanduva, ehlonipha abafazi, kwaye ekulungele ukuphendula xa kufuneka.”
She translated the sentiment through the wider context of her post – that being a king should not simply be about the crown, but about dignity, responsibility, respect for women and accountability.
She also invoked the legacy of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
“As King, society expects leadership that sets an example. May you never forget the legacy and the shoes of King Zwelithini, who was widely associated with honouring and celebrating the dignity of women. Leadership carries expectations, and accountability is part of that responsibility.”
‘Don’t push us to release actual videos’
Mampondo’s post then took a more serious turn.
“Don’t push us to release actual videos, stop making a joke about the Stella you drank & verbally abused a woman.”
Her reference appears to be to the alcohol visible in the widely circulated recording. Reports from July described the man in the footage as holding what appeared to be a green beer bottle, while the royal household acknowledged that the recording captured an emotionally charged confrontation.
Mampondo’s allegations about other women, however, go beyond the publicly circulated footage and have not been independently established.
She claimed that young women had contacted her with allegations of sexual abuse.
“This is also for the young virgin girls that called me saying he abused them sexually. I’m with you my babies. I’m just sad you guys didn’t run to me quickest to take you to hospitals.”
She continued:
“As a sister and woman I’m soo sorry that he could be so careless and with power, fatherhood & fame!”
Mampondo also referred to claims involving alleged rituals, writing:
“I’m sorry to the girls he used for his rituals. Emails are heartbreaking to read and May God vindicate you guys.”
These are serious allegations. There is no evidence in the material reviewed for this article independently establishing that the alleged sexual assaults or ritual-related claims occurred, and Mampondo does not present court findings or other independently verified evidence in the post.
A woman says she was taken to meet the king
The controversy is now accompanied by a screenshot of correspondence from a woman who says she previously contacted Mampondo for help.
In the email shown in the screenshot, the woman says Mampondo had previously assisted her in Johannesburg by connecting her with an MEC and later referring her to a friend at Legal Aid when she could not afford legal services.
She then describes an alleged encounter involving Prince Afrika Zulu and King Misuzulu.
According to the woman’s account, she says she was recruited by Prince Afrika Zulu to travel to meet the king. She says she went because she wanted to meet him, but alleges that once they arrived she felt trapped and unable to freely remove herself from the situation.
She further alleges that the king was intoxicated and that she was subsequently deeply affected by the experience.
The woman says she did not go to hospital afterwards and did not report the matter at the time. She asks whether there could still be a legal avenue despite not having undergone a medical examination and having no video evidence.
The identity of the woman is not established in the screenshot, and the allegations contained in her correspondence have not been independently verified.
Mampondo urges women to preserve evidence
In a separate message aimed at those who have contacted her, Mampondo appeared to shift from public confrontation to legal-awareness guidance.
She said she had received messages and emails from people sharing “deeply personal experiences and allegations involving His Majesty King Misuzulu and other men.”
“I want to assure every person who has contacted me that I will attend to your communication one by one, and some privately with identities protected and with care.”
She also cautioned alleged victims not to manufacture evidence.
“From a legal awareness perspective, the absence of a hospital record, medical examination, video or other physical evidence does not automatically mean that a person has no legal avenue.”
She advised people considering action to preserve “messages, photographs, communications, dates, names of people present and your own recollection of events”, adding:
“Do not delete, alter or manufacture evidence, and do not feel pressured to confront the person involved yourself.”
She directed people to SAPS, Legal Aid South Africa and Thuthuzela Care Centres where appropriate.
“Most importantly you have the right to be heard, to understand your legal options and to make your own decision about what steps to take.”
She ended with a pointed message about status and power:
“Your dignity matters. Your safety matters. The law must be approached through proper processes, regardless of a person’s title, status or influence.”
The video that started the storm
The allegations now being raised by Mampondo come against the backdrop of the July video that already forced the Zulu royal household to respond.
In that recording, the man purported to be Misuzulu is heard accusing Queen Nomzamo of having an affair, threatening physical assault and demanding that she leave the royal household. Towards the end, the queen is heard saying: “This is the life I have to live day and night.”
The king’s office subsequently said the footage was historical, that it had been shared without his consent and that the royal couple had moved forward from the dispute. Misuzulu nevertheless acknowledged that some of his expressions were unacceptable and issued an apology for the hurt caused.
Mampondo’s latest intervention therefore raises a broader question around whether public apologies are enough when further allegations are made by women claiming to have experienced harmful conduct.
At this stage, those additional allegations remain allegations and would need to be tested through proper investigative and legal processes.
A post shared by Mampondo kaNdamase 🤍Mcotsho (@hrh_lelethu_impondo)
