On Monday, the Zulu king, the head of South Africa's most powerful traditional monarchy, stated that he was "fit and sound," and disputed rumours that he had been poisoned.
The king said that he was fit and sound. He is receiving treatment in a hospital in a neighbouring country.
After his father, Goodwill Zwelithini, died last year, the 48-year-old king ascended to the throne, ending a lengthy struggle over the royal succession.
The influential Zulu prime minister, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, announced over the weekend that the monarch had been hospitalized in Eswatini after getting ill.
Buthelezi claimed there were "suspicions that he was poisoned" following the untimely death of one of his close advisers, who was thought to have consumed a deadly chemical.
When asked if he had ever been in a hospital, the king replied, "never."
"It was a routine procedural check-up that I do every three months, sometimes every six months," he explained in a brief interview.
Prince Africa Zulu, the royal spokesman, told AFP on Monday that the Zulu monarch had spent the day working, including meeting with a Chinese delegation, but provided no other details.
Later, the spokesman uploaded a video where the king stated that he had "no poisoning whatsoever."
He also stated that the poisoning of his aide had not been confirmed.
The monarch stated that he needed to travel away from home to grieve at the death of his "right-hand man," he selected Eswatini, where his uncle, monarch Mswati III reigns. The trip also happened to coincide with his regular health examinations.
He also stated that he would look into the weekend reports about his health.
Buthelezi claimed that the present monarch preferred treatment in Eswatini since "both of his parents had received treatment in South Africa and later died."
Another Zulu king's counsellor was killed in unexplained circumstances on the sidelines of a ceremonial event last September.
Although the title of Zulu king does not confer governmental power, the monarch wields immense moral authority over more than 11 million Zulus, who account for nearly a fifth of South Africa's 60 million people.
After more than 50 years in power, King Zwelithini died, leaving six wives and at least 28 children.
