WATCH: Former president Jacob Zuma’s heartfelt message on death of King
'What will we be without iSilo?'
By SIHLE MKHIZE
Former state president, Jacob Zuma has joined hundreds of thousands of big personalities who have paid tributes on the passing on of King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu on Friday.
The King of the Zulu nation died at Albert Luthuli Memorial Hospital where he was attended to for his diabetes on Friday morning.
Current president, Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that iSilo will be afforded an official state burial, and ordered that all national flags be flown at half mast until the King has been sent off.
Zuma, in a message in isiZulu, recorded while sitting on a cow skin couch, probably at his homestead in Nkandla, northern KwaZulu-Natal, said the nation has lost a pillar.
“You of Phunga noMageba, you of iSilo, we have had our pillar broken. We have been dealt a heavy blow as the King has passed on. We wish to pass our heartfelt pain because we have lost our father.
“We have no words, we have been left speechless, because iSilo wa sour father, our guider… and he was everything you’d wish for in a parent and leader.
“We are all in pain and would like to send out condolences to the royal family and the entire nation. We have all lost. We are like a drifter lost in a mountain and alone having lost everything.
“What will we be without iSilo? He had a chance to lead us for a long time. He started during a difficult time when he took the Kingship under the apartheid regine and faced many challenges,” said Zuma in the message.
