South Africa’s Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu died suddenly on Friday, April 30, weeks after her husband, the king, died of a diabetes-related illness.
Queen Mantfombi, 65, was one of King Goodwill Zwelithini’s six wives. King Goodwill died on March 12, 2021 in the eastern city of Durban. He was 72.
The queen was elected the Regent of the Zulu Nation in line with the king’s wishes.
His Majesty’s will was read in the presence of more than 200 members of the Royal Family on March 24, 2021.
King Zwelithini (pictured left) is survived by five wives and 28 children. He married his sixth wife, Queen Zola Mafu, after she turned 18 on July 26, 2014.
While Her Majesty Queen Mantfombi acted as the de facto Regent of Zulu nation, further decisions on the succession of the Zulu Monarchy were pending until the family’s mourning period for the king had ended.
Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu monarch Mangosuthu Buthelezi, 92, denied rumors that she was poisoned.
“This has taken us by surprise and left us utterly bereft,” he said.
Queen Mantfombi was admitted to a hospital last week, exactly a month after she was elected regent, following her husband’s death.
The Queen was the third senior Zulu royal to be buried in recent months following the death of Zwelithini’s eldest son in November, and the king’s death in March.
