By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The body of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulus has arrived in Nongoma where he is expected to rest in the coming days.
The arrival of the body of the king brought the small northern KwaZulu-Natal town to a complete standstill.
Mourning residents lined up the streets of the town and the road leading to the historic KwaKhethomthandayo palace, some showing sign of respect while others pulled out their phones to take photos and record videos.
After leaving the body at a mortuary in the town’s CBD, the convoy of about 30 cars, blurring sirens, flashing blue lights and hazards, then made a small procession to the palace.
The body was fetched from Durban earlier in the day by a convoy which included Zulu warriors clad in traditional regalia and made the almost 300km long journey to Nongoma.
The arrival of the body came at a time when there was confusion whether the king’s body would take a last tour of all his six palaces as per an old Zulu custom.
Senior prince Mbonisi Zulu said they would meet and decide on the way forward.
“For now there is no decision whether the king’s body would be allowed to tour all his (six) palaces before resting him.
“Princes would meet and determine that,” the prince said.
The king, who presided over the Zulu nation for almost half a century, making him the longest reigning king in the 205 year history of the Zulu nation, died on Friday aged 72.
The Prince has also dismissed rumours that he died of Covid-19.
He stressed that until the King’s doctors say otherwise, the rumour that he died of Covid-19 is malicious.
“There is a statement that made it known that the King was admitted with diabetes and that is the official information we have for the public,” he said.
Meanwhile Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the funeral will not be open for all to attend.
He said Zwelithini’s remains will not lay in state for viewing by the public, as has been the tradition in the monarchy.
Unfortunately, however, we are faced with the reality that South Africa and the world remain within the grip of a deadly pandemic. The national regulations which are in place, restricting the number of people who may gather, cannot be contravened, even in a time of extraordinary distress.
“It would be unconscionable to allow His Majesty’s passing to become the cause of further deaths among His Majesty’s people. It has therefore been necessary to take the difficult decision for the late king not to [lay] in state.
“I, therefore, make an appeal, on behalf of the family, for mourners not to travel to Nongoma to pay their respects. It is vital that we avoid crowds gathering at this time, as this would place lives in jeopardy,” Buthelezi said.
Zwelithini, whose rule spanned nearly 50 years, was the longest serving Zulu king.