Sacred Safeguards: Zulu rituals that follow unnatural deaths

ZULU cultural experts say deaths under unnatural circumstances, such as that of former police minister and ambassador Nathi Mthethwa, must be followed by cleansing rituals before burial to break the cycle of misfortune and protect the family left behind.

Zulu cultural experts Nomagugu Ngobese and Professor Sihawu Ngubane explained the significance of the ritual connected to unnatural death. 

Mthethwa, who was serving as the South African ambassador to France, died in Paris on September 30, 2025. 

The cause of his death remains unclear, with his family members disputing the official report from the French authorities that he had jumped from the 22nd floor of a Paris hotel.

Mthethwa’s body was discovered in the courtyard of the 137-meter-tall Hyatt Regency Hotel in Paris. 

The South African government has dispatched police investigators to Paris to participate in establishing the cause of his death. 

Mthethwa will be buried today at his rural village of KwaMbonambi near Richards Bay on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, and his funeral will be  broadcast and livestreamed.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has honoured him with the state funeral category two.

It was previously reported that the elders in the Mthethwa family would travel to France to fetch his spirit from the spot where the body was discovered, using a twig of the Umlahlankosi tree, which is known as buffalo thorn or Ziziphus mucronata.

When approached to reveal what ritual had been conducted to prepare Mthethwa’s body for the burial, his brother said the family would not comment.

Ngobese and Ngubane said it was important that when a person dies of unnatural causes, including murder, the body should be washed using intelezi, a plant which some African tribes believe 'prevents bad spirits from haunting people'.

“The body of a person who died accidentally does not enter the family house. 

“It is transported from the mortuary straight to the graveyard to avoid a curse from haunting family members,” Ngubane said. 

He said it was a common practice that a coffin containing the body of a person who died naturally should spend a night in his family's house. 

It was believed that if a person died through suicide, a car accident, or murder, others in the family might die the same way. 

Ngubane stated that the body should be washed and rinsed before being dressed. He said in case the body had wounds, each of them should be watched carefully. 

“This ritual is done to prevent the curse,” he said.

Ngubane said the cleansing ritual can be conducted by experienced elders in the family or a traditional healer who is trusted by the family. 

“To take any traditional healer could be dangerous because he or she might conduct the ritual for the wrong reasons,” said Ngubane. 

Some people believe that the body of a victim of an accident should not be buried in the family yard next to the graves of others who died naturally. 

However, Ngubane said once the body goes through the appropriate ritual, it can be buried next to other graves, but it must not enter the house. 

Ngobese said any elderly person in the family could conduct the ritual to avoid spending money on traditional healers.

She said the cleansing would also include the slaughtering of a goat.  

“The body must be cleansed before being brought inside the homestead.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the funeral service would be held at the Siyabonga Sangweni Sport Complex at 9am. 

In honouring Mthethwa’s role in government, as he held various positions in the cabinet, Ramaphosa said the funeral service will entail ceremonial elements performed by the South African Police Service.

“The President has also directed that the National Flag be flown half-mast from tomorrow morning, Thursday, 9 October 2025, until the evening of the funeral on Sunday, 12 October 2025,” said Magwenya.

The government has encouraged members of the public to send messages of condolence to the Mthethwa family, friends and colleagues via condolences@gcis.gov.za .  

Alternatively, visit the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Parliament in Cape Town, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, King Shaka International Airport in Durban, embassies in France and Pretoria, all provincial legislature buildings, ANC headquarters and officers of all premiers

bongani.hans@inl.co.za

SUNDAY TRIBUNE