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PoliticsAfrica

South Africa mourns late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini

Farah Bahgat
March 18, 2021

The longest serving Zulu monarch in history was reportedly buried in a private ceremony early Thursday.

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Late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini.
King Goodwill Zwelithini died on March 12 in the eastern city of DurbanImage: Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute on Thursday tothe late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, who reigned for more than five decades. 

Zwelithini was buried early Thursday as the Zulu nation mourned their longest serving monarch, local media reported.

"On behalf of the people of south Africa I express my deepest condolences to the royal family and the Zulu nation," Ramaphosa said during the late king’s memorial service.   

"“The king is not dead, because kings don’t die. Their spirits live with us.” 

Ramaphosa also praised the late king's efforts in fighting AIDS, gender-based violence and inequality. 

Zwelithini died at age 72 last week in the eastern city of Durban, after weeks of treatment for a diabetes-related illness. 

Zulu people make their way to the mortuary to receive the body of King Goodwill Zwelithini from in Nongoma, KwaZulu Natal on March 17, 2021.
Zulu people mourned their late traditional king in leopard skinImage: Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images

'Planting' the late king

His remains were laid to rest at his birthplace, the small southeastern town of Nongoma in KwaZulu-Natal province.

A select few men reportedly conducted the intimate ceremony, referred to as "planting", behind closed doors.   

A day before his burial, Zulu mourners paid tribute to their late leader, wearing traditional leopard skin, dancing and parading as they accompanied his body to the royal palace.

Zulu people dressed in leopard skin make their way to the mortuary to receive the body of King Goodwill Zwelithini from in Nongoma, KwaZulu Natal on March 17, 2021.
The late king reigned over more than 11 million Zulu peopleImage: Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images

A 'controversial' king

Zwelithini was the longest-serving Zulu king in history, reigning for more than five decades.

His role was largely spiritual and ceremonial, and although he had received criticism from South African authorities, he kept his popularity among the Zulu people. 

The late king had controversies with the South African government as he threatened to have his community boycott elections before. He also had a row over his Ingonyama Trust, which managed 3 million hectares (7.4 million acres) of communally-owned land.

Traditional leaders have been constitutionally recognized since the end of the apartheid in South Africa.