Early dawn burial for Zulu Queen Regent

THE Zulu nation’s late Queen Regent, Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, was buried at dawn today within KwaKhangela palace and will later be honoured with a state-sponsored memorial service.

The 65-year-old was buried according to the Swati royal culture of wrapping royals in a cow’s hide.

Her private burial was conducted around 2am by a special team of traditional culture experts from eSwatini and the Zulu monarch. Further, it was attended by family members from both monarchies.

Among those from the Swati monarch was the queen’s brother Prince Guduza Dlamini, who was assigned by King Mswati to lead the high-powered delegation.

Before the burial, the queen’s body was brought home from Johannesburg on Wednesday evening and it was welcomed by Zulu regiments.

As per culture, she was rested for a day yesterday, before making her final journey.

This was while mourners from all walks of life continued to flock to the palace in Nongoma in northern KZN to mourn her passing.

With the burial now done and dusted, the attention is on the royal court tensions. There are fears that the royal court would be served with court papers from King Goodwill Zwelithini’s first wife, Queen Sibongile Dlamini (not related to the late queen) who wants to halt the process of distributing the late king’s estate and the appointment of a regent.

Dlamini is arguing that as the first wife who married the king in 1969 through civil rites and in community of property, she must get 50% of the king’s estate.

Supporting her are her two daughters (Princess Ntando and Princess Ntombizosuthu) who, separately, want the king’s will to be set aside as they claimed it has been altered and some of the signatures are dubious.