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President Ramaphosa mourns late Zulu king’s widow

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South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu



South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has expressed deep condolences following the sudden death of the regent of the Zulu nation, Her Majesty Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu.

A statement from the royal palace revealed that the widow of South Africa’s recently deceased Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, died unexpectedly on Thursday.

The traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, announced that “It is with the deepest shock and distress that the Royal Family announces the unexpected passing of Her Majesty Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, Regent of the Zulu Nation.”

“This has taken us by surprise and left us utterly bereft. On behalf of the royal family, I wish to assure the nation that while we are all rightly grief-stricken, there will be no leadership vacuum in the Zulu nation,” he added.

Although the cause of death was not disclosed, Reuters reported that the 65-year-old’s death came just over a month after she took the role following the death of her husband who passed away on March 12.

Aged 72, the late Zulu king died after half a century on the throne following a battle with diabetes-related illness.

Reacting to the death of the Queen, Ramaphosa took to his verified Twitter account on Friday morning to express his condolence.

“Personally and on behalf of government and all South Africans, I offer my sincerest condolences to the Royal Family and the Zulu nation.

“We extend our thoughts, prayers and hearts once more to the Royal Family who, in the midst of mourning the passing of the beloved King, are now called upon to bid farewell to the Regent in sadly short succession.

“We stand by the Royal Family and the nation in this hour of compounded grief,” he stated

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