PRINCE Mbongiseni Zulu will be buried at his home in Nongoma, KZN, on Saturday.
Prince Mbongiseni, King Misuzulu’s loyalist and Zulu royal family senior, was shot dead last Thursday, 24 November, while driving near his home.
He is the third King Misuzulu’s loyalist to be assassinated since September, which has raised concerns about the safety of the king and other loyalists.
Prince Mbongiseni was also a senior politician and he died serving as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) chief whip in the Zululand District Municipality.
He was in Parliament representing the National Council of Provinces.
Zulu royal family spokesman Prince Thulani confirmed that King Misuzulu will not attend the funeral as Zulu culture doesn’t allow that.
“The royal house will not comment much about the current murders of the loyalists. We hope the law will run its course,” he said.
Zulu monarch traditional prime minister and IFP founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said he is deeply hurt by the loss of Prince Mbongiseni.
Buthelezi, who is also a leader of IFP’s Parliamentary Caucus, said he has known him all his life and served with him in Parliament.
“I also speak on behalf of the IFP’s Parliamentary Caucus in expressing condolences to the Zulu royal family and the nation. We have lost a great servant of the people,” he said.
Buthelezi said Prince Mbongiseni maintained a lifelong commitment to serving the needs of their people.
“It reminds us yet again of the extreme levels of violence that plague our country. We pray for God’s intervention and for swift action by the SAPS in investigating this murder and making arrests,” he said.
In September, King Misuzulu’s loyalist and induna Dr Dumisani Khumalo was assassinated in Nongoma.
Induna Cuphisa Ntuli was also gunned down in Nongoma in October.
