South Africa’s Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, 72, dies after weeks in hospital for diabetes treatment
- Goodwill Zwelithini wielded great influence among millions of Zulus in his role
- Role was mostly ceremonial as he had no official power in modern South Africa
- Was admitted to hospital for diabetes but his health took a ‘turn for the worse’
- The King, from Nongoma, passed away in the early hours of this morning
South Africa’s Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, 72, has died after weeks in hospital for diabetes treatment.
The king wielded great influence among millions of Zulus through his largely ceremonial and spiritual role – despite having no official power in modern South Africa.
Zwelithini was admitted to hospital for diabetes last month but his health took a ‘turn for the worse’, a palace statement read.
The King – from Nongoma, a small town in the south-eastern Kwa-Zulu Natal province – passed away in the early hours of this morning.
Goodwill Zwelithini (pictured), the controversial but revered king of South Africa’s Zulus, died Friday aged 72 after weeks in hospital, his palace announced
Queen Elizabeth looks up to Zulu King Zwelithini as he presents her a replica of a cup given to King Cetshwayo by Queen Victoria in 1882 at a lunch in Durban, South Africa, in 1995
The statement was signed by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a powerful veteran politician who is also a Zulu prince.
The statement read: ‘It is with the utmost grief that I inform the nation of the passing of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini … 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,’ the statement said.
Born in Nongoma, Zwelithini ascended the throne in 1971 during the apartheid era at the age of 23, three years after the death of his father.