The replacement of a senior official in the Zulu monarchy in South Africa has sparked a row with the local Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) provincial government.

The traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, accused the KZN government of terminating the employment of Inyosi Buzetsheni Mdletshe, who is King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini's praise singer and cultural adviser.

The provincial government has denied the allegation as "false reports".

In a statement Mr Buthelezi said Mr Mdletshe was integral to the king's royal duties.

He added that the row was the latest in a series of incidents where the KZN administration has treated King Zwelithini in "a disrespectful manner".

"His Majesty cautions the KZN government that the disdain with which they treat the royal family in general, and his majesty in particular, is an affront to the Zulu nation," Mr Buthelezi said.

The provincial government denied that they had ended Mr Mdletshe's employment prematurely. They said Mr Mdletshe had come to the end of a two-year extended contract and that a new praise singer had succeeded him.

"It would then not be prudent for the provincial government to have two praise singers who are paid by the government from the same budget, so that is where the issue is," the KZN government said in a statement.

The Zulu kingdom is the largest of South Africa's eight traditional monarchies that are officially recognised by the government, all of which are funded by taxpayers.