Queen Thomo tribute as tombstone unveiled

THE unveiling of the tombstone of the mother of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, Queen Thomozile Zulu, brought out a number of political top brass

Even the heavy downpour did nothing to stop the thousands that included the king, President Jacob Zuma, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize from paying tribute to the woman who died 52 years ago at the age of 33.

Yesterday's ceremony, held at the Umkhumbane Freedom Park in Cato Manor, marked the end of a long journey undertaken by Zwelithini to find and lay his mother's remains to rest.

On Saturday, the queen's remains, which were exhumed in April and identified as that of the queen 25 days later, were buried in a state funeral at St Barnabas Anglican Church in Chesterville.

Her tombstone was unveiled yesterday in Cato Manor, where Zuma said the recovery of Queen Thomo's remains "brought closure not only to His Majesty but to the royal family and the entire Zulu nation".

He said it was a painstaking process to locate the remains and that it was fitting that her final resting place was Cato Manor, where she spent her final days. She died after a short illness and her remains were found at the Wiggin's Road cemetery in Chesterville.

An emotional Zwelithini said it was a sad day for him when he turned 60 three years ago and "still did not know where my mother was buried".

The reburial and unveiling also resulted in controversy in its build-up when it emerged that it would cost R300 million.

But the head of the eThekwini municipality's recreation and culture unit, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, said the cost was justified as the project would benefit the community and promote the Zulu nation.

eThekwini municipality spokesperson Thabo Mofokeng said the R300 million would also include the erection of an interactive cultural museum and heritage centre that the city said would acknowledge and celebrate the role played by the Zulu Kingdom in the liberation of South Africa.

Work on the Umkhumbane Freedom Park is expected to start later this year.