A SENIOR member of the Zulu royal family and King Misuzulu’s loyalist Prince Mbongiseni Zulu knew there were hitmen following him before he died last week.
During his funeral service held at his home at Nongoma, KZN, on Saturday 3 December, his friend Sibusiso Nkwanyana revealed that a few weeks ago Prince Mbongiseni told them he had noticed that he was being followed.
Prince Mbongiseni was the third king loyalist to be assassinated in Osuthu, Nongoma, which was 35km away from Nongoma cop shop. No arrests have been made yet in the murder case.
Nkwanyana said Prince Mbongiseni’s bodyguards had always protected him. But unfortunately on the day he was assassinated, he had left all his bodyguards at home.
He was apparently preparing for a braai and had gone out to buy meat and beverages. “Prince Mbongiseni refused to go to the police to report that he is being followed because he said he didn’t have enemies,” said Nkwanyana.
“Because he was being followed, he said he would go to his home and change the Audi he was driving and use his Jaguar that had more speed so that it would be easy to escape,” he said.
Zululand Mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi said they needed a police station in Osuthu because of all the killings happening in the area.
“Prince Mbongiseni worked hard in the royal house and in the municipality as chief whip under the IFP. He united all political parties. We want to tell authorities that Osuthu needs a police station,” he said. Zulu Monarch Traditional Prime Minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said the killings of King Misuzulu loyalists were raising a lot of questions.
Prince Mbongiseni’s brother Prince Bhekinkosi Zulu said it was hurting them that killers were disrespecting King Misuzulu and killing people close to him.
In September, induna Dr Dumisani Khumalo was gunned down in Osuthu. He was followed by another King Misuzulu loyalist Cuphisa Ntuli, who was also killed in the area. Sources inside the royal house said they suspected there was a hit list for King Misuzulu’s loyalists, who were now living in fear.
