Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima

Who is Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima?

Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima was a South African clan leader and ruler as king of Western Thembuland.

He was the grandson of the former President of Transkei, Kaiser Matanzima, and a great-great-nephew of Nelson Mandela.

Matanzima, the king of the Western Thembuland Kingdom was one of six traditional kings in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The Thembu people are divided into two kingdoms - Matanzima was ruler of the Western Thembuland Kingdom while his cousin, King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, led the second kingdom, BakaDalindyebo.

King Matanzima had suffered from declining health in recent years, and had been admitted to One Military Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2009. He died unexpectedly at Life St Dominic’s Hospital in East London, South Africa, on 22 May 2010, at the age of 39. He had vomited blood and complained of stomach pain the day before his death.

King Matanzima was survived by his wife, Phila, and his mother, Nosizwe.