A Zulu prince finds himself once again on the wrong side of the law, remanded into custody for a week as a fresh and serious case of mineral theft unfolds. Prince Lungalomndeni Zulu of the KwaZiphethe royal house, who is already navigating a separate R26 million (approximately US$1.4 million) theft case, appeared in the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court on new allegations.
The latest charges pertain to the theft of valuable zircon and titanium mineral sands, with an estimated value of a staggering R7 million (approximately US$380,000), said to have been taken on a single day in May 2023. The state, firmly opposing bail, successfully argued for a postponement, leaving the prince to contemplate his situation from a prison cell.
Zulu Prince Remanded In Custody In R7 Million Minerals Theft Case
The prosecution’s opposition to bail was rooted in what they describe as a pattern of behaviour. They pointed directly to the prince’s existing legal woes in Empangeni, a case of a “similar nature” where he stands accused alongside eight other men. In that ongoing matter, the group is alleged to have orchestrated the theft of unprocessed minerals worth over R26 million from the mining giant Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), the province’s largest taxpayer.
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The court has heard that the stolen goods, zircon and titanium, were allegedly supplied to a freight warehouse in Durban, with Prince Zulu’s company, Umshiniwam Enterprise, purportedly linked to the operation. His lawyer, Wilba Zungu, expressed frustration at the latest delay, stating,
“We were made to understand the prosecutor who is before court would deal with the bail application.”
Despite this objection, the magistrate granted the state’s request to postpone the bail hearing to allow a specialised advocate from the National Director of Public Prosecutions to attend.
Courtroom Tensions and Royal Drama
This is not the first time proceedings involving the prince have been fraught with tension. During a previous appearance in the Empangeni case in December 2024, the atmosphere turned volatile. Prince Zulu and several of his co-accused confronted a Sunday Times photographer, threatening to destroy his equipment after discovering media were present. The incident occurred despite a prior ruling by Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo allowing the proceedings to be broadcast in the public interest. Court officials were forced to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating further.
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Magistrate Hlatshwayo later apologised for a lapse in communication but stood by his decision, emphasising the importance of transparency. The prince’s legal troubles are also set against a backdrop of royal intrigue, as he was previously identified as part of a royal faction that supported Prince Simakade Zulu’s challenge to the throne currently held by King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
Prince Zulu had previously been granted bail of R50,000 (approximately US$2,700) in the initial case, with several of his co-accused also released on amounts ranging from R5,000. One suspect connected to that matter remains at large. As he awaits his next court date, the nation watches to see how this dramatic tale of alleged high-stakes theft and royal privilege will unfold.