Mandla Zulu, who was also a national executive member of the Inkatha Freedom Party, died on Wednesday, August 5, at the age of 45, the presidency said in a statement.

"The president’s thoughts and prayers are with his majesty king Goodwill Zwelithini, the royal household, and the people of KwaZulu-Natal.

"The president offers his sincere condolences to the royal household, mindful that his majesty king Goodwill Zwelithini has in recent weeks suffered the passing of three other senior members of the royal family," the presidency said.

“My heart goes out to his majesty king Goodwill Zwelithini and the royal household at the passing of an outstanding leader and community builder at such a youthful age; a passing that compounds the grief already experienced by the royal family in recent weeks.

“On behalf of government and the nation at large, I offer his majesty my sincerest condolences in this trying hour. May the soul of prince Mandla Zulu rest in peace,” Ramaphosa said in the statement.

According to media reports, the Zulu monarch is still mourning the deaths of two princesses, Nobuhle and Busi, who lived at the Mbelebeleni royal residence in KwaMashu in Durban, one after the other, and the king’s sister queen Noloyiso Sandile, born princess Nomusa Zulu, who was the queen regent of the AmaRharabe kingdom in the Eastern Cape. All three died within the space of a month, IOL reported.

African News Agency