Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini has died. IFP founder and traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, confirmed the tragic news in a statement issued on Friday morning.
“It is with the utmost grief that I inform the nation of the passing of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu, King of the Zulu Nation.
“Tragically, while still in hospital, His Majesty’s health took a turn for the worse and he subsequently passed away in the early hours of this morning.”
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Buthelezi said the Royal Family thanked the nation for “your continued prayers and support in this most difficult time. May His Majesty our King rest in peace.”
Last Friday Buthelezi said the king was progressing in hospital. He was admitted to ICU in a private hospital last month after “several unstable glucose readings”.
BREAKING NEWS
His Majesty the King Goodwill KaBhekuzulu, King of the Zulu Nation, passed away.
Rest in Peace the King. pic.twitter.com/KLe4uCcOBV
— The Insight Factor (@insightfactor) March 12, 2021
Last year, his son, Prince Lethukuthula Zulu, was killed in Joburg. There was a war brewing, in the king’s palace over who would be next in line to the throne.
Some in the monarchy believed that the murder could be related to the rivalry of the royalty because the slain prince was first in line to South Africa’s biggest throne. Insiders in the palace revealed that secret meetings were held at the late king’s KwaNongoma palace.
The police said the prince was killed while his friend was sleeping in another room. Close family member Badala Zulu told The Star on Sunday that the family was trying to avoid internal wars.
“The death of the prince is very strange. How could his business partner not know anything? We can’t dismiss that the weapon could come from inside the family?” Badala said then.
Five suspects, four women aged between 27 and 42 and a 32-year-old man, were arrested in Pretoria for the murder.
