ZULU monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini's relative, Prince Melizwe Dlamini III, has his sights set on becoming a property mogul.

The controversial prince, who was one of the 11 Zulu chiefs who challenged Zwelithini's throne by demanding to be declared kings with the same status as his, has bought real estate agency Seeff's Umhlanga branch.

The lucrative branch was acquired through his Insikayesizwe Group of Companies.

"Property brokerage services are not a terrain explored much by previously disadvantaged people in this country," he said last week.

Seeff Properties chairperson Samuel Seeff said: "South African real estate has had a very pale face for far too long. We welcome this opportunity, which will be considered a forerunner for many others."

Founded in 1964, Seeff Properties boasts more than 255 branches and more than 1100 agents countrywide.

Seeff's Umhlanga branch sells properties in some of Durban's most sought after suburbs, including Glenashley, Gateway, La Lucia, Mount Edgecombe, Somerset Park, Sunningdale, Umdloti and Umhlanga.

In 2007 Zwelithini told hundreds of amakhosi at his offices in Nongoma that he had received several calls from people urging him to declare war against the 11 chiefs wanting to be declared kings with the same status as himself.

He declared the move by the chiefs a threat posed to the unity of the Zulu kingdom.