A descendant of King Lobengula, Thafetha Njube Khumalo, has died. He was aged 80. Khumalo, who is a great-grandson of the last Ndebele monarch, died in Eastern Cape where he had been residing.
Family spokesperson and brother to Thafetha, Prince Zwide Khumalo, confirmed his death, saying it’s a big loss to the family. Khumalo died from high blood pressure on Christmas Day. Prince Zwide Khumalo had this to say;
Thafetha has been staying in South Africa for decades. He died on December 25, 2018, after struggling with high blood pressure. He had been partially blind for a long time. At the time of his death, he was working in South Africa.
He was the last born of Albert Njube Khumalo, who was one of the founders of Highlanders Football Club and was a grandson to King Lobengula. Thafetha was a great-grandson to King Lobengula.
Prince Khumalo added that Thafetha will be buried at plot 19 in Gwatemba tomorrow and mourners are gathered at 1172/2 Old Magwegwe in Bulawayo.
Meanwhile, Thafetha, who had no children, was married to an Xhosa woman who died years ago.