Dumisani Blasius Khumalo, a Personal Assistant to South Africa’s Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini, has been assassinated by some unknown gunmen while a traditional ceremony known as reed dance progressed on Saturday.
MisuZulu was crowned as monarch last August amid strong opposition within the royal family.
According to AFP, the opponents have threatened a “bloodbath” if the age-old ceremony (reed dance) held at the weekend.
At the traditional event which celebrates sexual purity among girls, about 10,000 people gathered in the small town of Nongoma, a Zulu stronghold in the southeastern KwaZulu-Natal province.
A member of the regional legislature, Sihle Zikalala, said on Sunday: “Khumalo was killed by unknown gunmen last night (Saturday), shortly after attending the Reed Dance in Nongoma.”
The slain aide was responsible for settling disputes within the Zulu community.
“He was very loyal to the royal family and he worked closely with MisuZulu’s father before,” said Khaya Ndwandwe, a Zulu culture expert.
Discussion about this post