King Zwelithini ‘planted’, memorial service to follow
Mourners gathered to pay their respects to the Zulu nation's longest-serving monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
The King was planted in the early hours of Thursday morning, in a private and intimate ceremony, attended only by a select few men and his Amabutho, or warriors.
The nation will again bow its head to honour the late monarch when his official memorial service begins at 10am on Thursday.
The late King has been planted, a reference to their final send off to the king as according to Zulu tradition he is not gone but merely manifested in a different form.
On Wednesday evening the streets leading up to the palace were flanked by locals. Some walking by foot while accompanying the King's body.
The brief private ceremony was held by Amabutho.
Once that was done, his body was taken to the royal palace where he was received by his immediate family.
Now that the body has been planted the next event to take place is the official category 1 memorial service.
This will take place inside a giant marquee which is to be set up in an open field just outside the gate of the royal palace.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is also expected to deliver a eulogy at the event.
It is believed that once the event is completed some aspects of the late King's will be read out.
However, this is not clear when this will happen but it is hoped that it will give some clarity as to who will be next in line to be the next King of the Amazulu nation.
King Zwelithini died in hospital on Friday at the age of 72.
