Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima

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 are divided into two kingdoms; Matanzima was ruler of the Western Thembuland Kingdom while his cousin, King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, led the other kingdom, BakaDalindyebo.^[1] which is based at Bumbane Great Place in Mthatha.

King Matanzima had suffered from declining health in recent years, and had been 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.^[1]

References