A Great Loss For The Nation: Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Passes Away
Mzansi is in mourning as Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the revered Zulu monarch and traditional prime minister, has passed away. He was 95.
He breathed his last in the early hours of Saturday, 9 September 2023, after suffering from back pain for months. He had been in hospital since July and was released only last week.
ALSO READ: Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini Dies
President Cyril Ramaphosa Mourns The Death Of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed his death in a statement, sending his heartfelt condolences to the Buthelezi family, the Zulu Royal Household and the IFP.
He honoured Buthelezi as an “exceptional leader” who played a vital role in the liberation struggle against apartheid, the transition to democracy in 1994 and the progress of the nation.
A Life Of Service
Prince Buthelezi was born on 27 August 1928 in Mahlabathini, KwaZulu-Natal. He was a descendant of King Shaka, the founder of the Zulu kingdom, and a nephew of King Solomon kaDinuzulu.
The Zulu monarch studied at Fort Hare University, where he befriended Nelson Mandela and other future leaders of the African National Congress (ANC).
Prince Buthelezi established the IFP in 1975 as a cultural movement that became a political force in his home province. He also served as the chief minister of the KwaZulu homeland under apartheid.
ALSO READ: Ominous Turn of Events: Pick n Pay Store Endures Robbery a Day Before Founder Raymond Ackerman Dies
He rejected the ANC’s armed struggle and advocated for peaceful negotiations with the white minority government.
However, his relationship with the ANC worsened in the 1980s and 1990s, leading to violent clashes between their supporters that took thousands of lives.
The IFP leader initially refused to take part in the first democratic elections in 1994, but later agreed to join after reaching a deal with Mandela. He became part of the government of national unity as the minister of home affairs, a position he held until 2004.
Prince Buthelezi retired from the leadership of the IFP in 2019, when he became its president emeritus. He also served as the traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch and nation, advising King Goodwill Zwelithini until his death in March 2021 and his successor King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
He leaves behind his wife Irene Thandekile MaMzila Buthelezi, whom he married in 1952, and their eight children.