King Mswati III’s Reported 17th Marriage Sparks Royal Speculation

Supposedly, Eswatini’s King Mswati III is preparing to tie the knot for the seventeenth time. According to rumors, he is in a relationship with Nontokozo Shembe, who is the daughter of the renowned South African preacher Mduduzi Shembe, also known as Unyazi LweZulu.

The 58-year-old monarch is reportedly engaged to be married into the influential Shembe religious family, though no official announcement has been made regarding the matter.

The two families allegedly finalized lobola negotiations behind closed doors. Assuming the rumors are accurate, the people of Eswatini might welcome Nontokozo with open arms as a Liphovela, the traditional title for a royal fiancée.

Reportedly, Nontokozo visited the kingdom from August 28th to September 4th, 2026, according to sources in Eswatini. Her purported visit coincided with the annual uMhlanga Reed Dance festivities, which attracted thousands of young women to Ludzidzini Palace.

The supposed relationship has left everyone curious since she was never introduced to the public during the festivities, despite rumors to the contrary.

When asked for comment, King Mswati’s spokesman Percy Simelane was circumspect, suggesting that the matter might be familial or personal. In addition, he explicitly stated that he could not serve as a representative for the royal family.

Following the 2024 Reed Dance celebrations, rumors began circulating that the king had wed Nomcebo Zuma, the daughter of Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa. People are wondering what this means. Hers was apparently the sixteenth marriage he had.

The Eswatini royal family’s ties to the influential South African Shembe religious dynasty could be further cemented if rumors of an engagement to Nontokozo are true.

There have been no official confirmations of the marriage from either the Shembe leadership or the royal family of Eswatini. Thus, the veracity of the reports remains unproven.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HGpNdqbJo/