Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima (1970/71 – 22 May 2010) was a South African clan leader and ruler as king of Western Thembuland.[1]
He was the son of Mthethuvumile Matanzima and grandson of the former President of Transkei, Kaiser Matanzima, and a great-great-nephew of Nelson Mandela.[1]
Matanzima, the king of the Western Thembuland Kingdom was one of six traditional kings in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.[1] The Thembu people were divided into two kingdoms by colonial authorities; Matanzima was ruler of the illegally colonial created Western Thembuland Kingdom while his cousin, King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, led the Senior kingdom, BakaDalindyebo.[1] which is based at Bumbane Great Place in Mthatha.
King Matanzima suffered from declining health and was admitted to One Military Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa in 2009.[1] He died unexpectedly at Life St Dominic's Hospital in East London, South Africa, on 22 May 2010, at the age of 39.[1] He had vomited blood and complained of stomach pain the day before his death.[1]
King Matanzima was survived by his wife, Phila, and his mother, Nosizwe who died in 2022.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Sudden death of King Matanzima, 39". Daily Dispatch. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.