‘She could not stop vomiting’ Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi narrates the last days he spent with Princess Sibuyiselwe Buthelezi. 

By: Buhle Mbhele

Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi, the heir of the late Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Nation, Mangosuthu Buthelezi says, it was after his younger sister had undergone a surgery when her health took a turn for the worst. He says Sibuyiselwe’s daughter, Princess Ntando Nkeikura (23) was the first to receive the news of her passing on Monday night at a hospital in Cape Town. He admits that Sibuyiselwe had been battling with an illness for a while at the time of her passing.

The late princess was Shenge’s last born and fourth daughter of his eight children with Irene Audrey Thandekile Mzila. She was born and raised in Ulundi, north of KwaZulu Natal in the Nkonjeni area where the KwaPhindangene Royal Palace is located. Leading up to her assuming the role of Member of Parliament, Sibuyiselwe was a member of the South African Police Service as a Captain at the Ulundi Police Station. She then moved to being the Municipal Manager for the Ulundi Local Municipality and now under the Inkatha Freedom Party, she has been serving as the MP working in the Human Settlements portfolio committee.

She passed away on Monday at a hospital in Cape Town at the age of 55.

Sibuyiselwe has been described as fearless, dominant, caring, warm and soft at heart. At the time of her passing, she was also very active in the IFP, particularly in Zululand and played a vital role in cementing the party during by-elections.

ANC Zululand chairperson Sibusiso Mhlongo has praised her by saying their working relationship was inclusive and united. Mhlongo was part of the delegation in KZN led by the chairperson Siboniso Duma who visited the Buthelezi family on Wednesday to convey their condolences.

Prince Zuzifa has shared that a week before Sibuyiselwe’s passing, on Tuesday night, he remembers rushing her to hospital and she kept asking the driver to pull over so she could throw up on the side of the road which indicated to them that her health complications were escalating.

“When we arrived in hospital, the Doctors did tests on her and we only left the hospital in the early hours of the next morning, and I took her home and had to go prepare for my meeting in Parliament.

Later that day, I received a call from her saying she was not getting any better and insisted on returning to the hospital; then I decided to abandon my duties in Parliament and rush to her so we could take her to the doctor. This is when she was admitted for at least a week till she took her last breath on Monday night.”- Prince Zuzifa said

Prince Zuzifa expresses that it haunts him daily that Sibuyiselwe’s daughter had to be the first to learn about her mothers’ passing considering, at the time, Nkeikura was busy with tertiary assignments and tests having to travel between Durban and Cape Town during her mother’s sickly times.

“They were so close; some people called them twins or sisters because they shared the same interests in fashion and outdoor activities among other things. Ntando spent her whole life with her mother; that’s who she knows and trusts the most, but I will take it from here, because umntwana asked me to do so when she departs this earth.” Prince Zuzifa added

Prince Zuzifa shares how he and Princess Phumzile will now have to hold the fort just the two of them following the passing of their youngest sibling.

Her burial will take place on Saturday at KwaPhindangene Royal Palace in Ulundi.