The king made the remarks on 5 August 2026 at the 'emkhosini sweivivane' ceremony held at eMashobeni royal palace. He suggested that attending could give them an opportunity to be noticed by men who might take them as second wives and, in his words, "wipe away their tears." With his personal life already under public scrutiny, his advice to single mothers drew both curiosity and criticism. View video here:Mzansi divided over the King's remarksMany South Africans pushed back on the framing, arguing that presenting mothers as candidates for second wives was more patronising than empowering. King faces backlash over 'rude' beahviour during lobolaA video of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini drew sharp debate online after it captured him firmly gesturing and audibly reprimanding someone outdoors during lobola proceedings on 19 July 2026.