By Celani Sikhakhane
The KwaZulu-Natal government has snubbed the Zulu Kingdom’s historic unveiling of Queen Regent Mantfombi Shiyiwe kaSobhuza’s tombstone.
This comes after the provincial government pulled out abruptly from the preparation of this unveiling, marking the third anniversary since the Queen Regent died at the Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg in 2021.
King Misuzulu KaZwelithini’s siblings decided to proceed with the event that took two days at the KwaKhangela Mankengana Royal palace in Nongoma.
On Friday the event began with the unveiling of a giant tombstone and on Saturday the event was open to the public but no government leaders were there.
A royal family member told Scrolla.Africa that the provincial government was part of the process ahead of the ceremony.
“We were surprised in the middle of the week when they told us that they were pulling out at the last minute. It was a frustrating situation in such a way that one of Queen Mantfombi’s daughters, Princess Bukhosibemvelo, became emotional and fainted since she is suffering from heart disease. Till today we don’t know why they pulled out at the eleventh hour,” a source from the royal court told Scrolla.Africa.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, who was the only government official at the ceremony, said in his address he had coordinated the transportation of the Queen Regent from eSwatini to South Africa as her life was deteriorating.
“I then made arrangements as part of my government duties with eSwatini authorities to transport her to get medical attention in South Africa. The children of the late queen reminded me about this event and I made sure that indeed I would be part of it,” said Dhlomo.
The Queen Regent had been in eSwatini for almost four years due to illness before the passing of her husband King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
Soon after she was appointed as regent to the Zulu throne, she was admitted to hospital in Johannesburg, where she died on 29 April 2021.
Her ceremony saw the reunion of King Zwelithini’s wives and their children who came to support Queen Mantfombi’s children, but the King himself was not there.
KZN government spokesperson Bongi Gwala had not responded to questions from Scrolla.Africa at the time of publication.
Pictured above: The giant tombstone of the late Zulu Queen Regent Mantfombi Shiyiwe kaSobhuza was unveiled on Friday.
Image source: Supplied
