The adviser to the king of the Zulus in South Africa, traditional sovereign crowned last month but disputed within the royal family, was killed on the night of Saturday to Sunday on the sidelines of a traditional ceremony, according to local authorities.
Dumisani Blasius Khumalo”was killed by unidentified gunmen last night shortly after attending the ‘reed dance’ in Nongoma“, lamented Sunday in a press release Sihle Zikalala, the chief minister of the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN, south-east).
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Some 10,000 people gathered on Saturday in the small town of Nongoma, a Zulu stronghold in KwaZulu-Natal province (southeast), for the traditional “reed dance“. During this age-old rite, young girls present themselves to the king of the largest ethnic group in the country, which has 11 million Zulus, almost one in five South Africans.
This was the first reed ceremony for King MisuZulu kwaZwelithini. Opponents of the new sovereign had made threats and predicted a “bloodbathif the celebration was maintained. Security had been tightened.
Principal adviser to the king, Dumisani Blasius Khumalo was notably responsible for settling disputes within the Zulu community. In South Africa, some community disputes are settled in traditional courts rather than in ordinary courts.
“He was loyal to the royal family and already very close to the father of the new king, Goodwill Zwelithini“, explained to AFP Khaya Ndwandwe, specialist in Zulu culture. Since the death last year of Goodwill Zwelithini, after 50 years of reign, a dispute for the succession rages.
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In South Africa, sovereigns and traditional chiefs are recognized by the Constitution and exercise great moral authority. MisuZulu kwaZwelithini, recognized by President Cyril Ramaphosa, was born to Goodwill Zwelithini’s favorite and third wife. The first wife challenged the succession in court, which was dismissed.
The late king’s eldest son, born out of wedlock, filed an urgent appeal this week claiming to be the legitimate heir. Brothers of Goodwill Zwelithini have also claimed the throne for another candidate. During the ceremony on Saturday, the new king called for “peace and unity within the royal house“.