King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has cancelled the second leg of the Reed Dance in honour of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Buthelezi who died yesterday. Buthelezi died a week after being discharged from hospital where he spend over a month following a back procedure. The first leg of the annual Reed Dance was held at Enyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma yesterday

In his speech on Saturday, Misuzulu said it would be hard for him to sleep or rest in the coming days as he and Buthelezi worked together for the longest time until the end, having respected him. At a sombre occasion, the King told thousands of maidens that he was cutting short the event so that they can go back home and mourn the late Zulu Monarch prime minister in line with the Zulu traditional practices. In his speech, the King said: "In respecting the passing of uMntwana wakwa Phindangene, the Queen and I decided that tomorrow's reed dance ceremony should be cancelled," he said. Misuzulu said on Saturday: "We are releasing you to go back home tomorrow. We are doing this to show respect to the current situation we are faced with. Today will be the last day of the Reed Dance Festival, God willing, we will continue with our cultural practice next year, but for now as a nation, we feel that long speeches and advices that you'd like to hear should be cut short today,".

Paying tribute to Buthelezi, the King thanked him for serving the royal family for years. Before Misuzulu, Buthelezi served King Bhekuzulu kaSolomon and the current King's late father King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. "What happened to us today is unusual, I am crying with you and my people. The Prince has done a lot, not to mention what he has done for the royal family. He also stood for the truth till the end," Misuzulu said. "He was a pillar of strength to the Zulu nation, to all of us. He always stood for the truth. He and myself were working together till the very end,' he added. Meanwhile, AmaZulu FC also paid their tribute on the passing of Umntwana wakwa Phindangene. The club President, Sandile Zungu said: "Our sadness and prayers reverberate with that of the entire nation, the continent and the whole world," AmaZulu had a special relationship with Prince Buthelezi in terms of football. Zungu said: "The Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup is one way we will continue to honour him by, in hope that the principals behind it see it fit to continue. That is one of many ways we made a commitment as a club to honour him," Zungu said.