BBC News Published image captionKing Goodwill Zwelithini was on the throne for almost 50 years The Zulu monarchy in South Africa has been plunged into controversy following the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini and - weeks later - the regent. It has led to a vicious power struggle for the throne - royals are fighting it out in court, hurling insults in public, and fuelling rumours of the poisoning of rivals. The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg looks at some of the key players in the royal drama: Father of the nation: King Goodwill Zwelithini Born on 14 July 1948, he was the eighth monarch of the Zulu nation. Before he could take over from his father in 1971, he was forced to go into hiding for three years following death threats.