8th Wife to Swaziland King Mswati's commits suicide

Senteni Masango, the eighth wife of Africa’s last absolute monarch, Swaziland’s King Mswati III, has died after committing suicide. 

She was found dead in the early hours of Friday morning, Mpumalanga News reports.  

Barely a week after the burial of her sister Nombuso Masango, the king’s wife overdosed on about 40 amytriptyline capsules.

Amitriptyline, which is sold under the brand name Elavil, among others, is a medicine primarily used to treat a number of mental illnesses.  

This includes major depressive disorder and lack of attention disorder.  

What allegedly made matters worse was the king’s order to ensure that she neither attends her late sister’s memorial service nor funeral, the paper reports. Lately she has lived alone for over three years in a big mansion with not a single visit from her husband, the king, the paper also said.  

Last year in September, the king officially unveiled a new bride, Siphelele Mashwama (19), the daughter of a Swaziland Cabinet minister, Jabulile Mashwama.  

She became his fourteenth wife, though some have left him. 

Further reports claim he now has 15 wives.