SA mourns as IFP’s Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi dies at 95
The IFP founder passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning…
IFP founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthulezi passed away in the early hours of this morning, Saturday 9 September 2023. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has led the tributes as the country mourns the passing of a KZN legend who contributed so much to South Africa. The SA president said:
“I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the Prince of KwaPhindangene, Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch and Nation, and the Founder and President Emeritus of the Inkatha Freedom Party.
“Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been an outstanding leader in the political and cultural life of our nation, including the ebss and flows of our liberation struggle, the transition which secured our freedom in 1994 and our democratic dispensation.
Prince Buthelezi, who served as the democratic South Africa’s first Minister of Home Affairs, passed away in the early hours of today, Saturday, 9 September 2023, just two weeks after the celebration of his 95th birthday. My thoughts and prayers and those of government and our nation go out to the Royal Household who have been blessed to share uMntwana waKwaPhindangene’s extended lifetime with him, as well as to the Zulu Nation and the leadership and membership of the Inkatha Freedom Party.”
– South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa said announcements will be made in due course, based on consultations between the SA government and Buthelezi’s family, on the arrangements to “mourn and honour the Inkosi of the Buthelezi clan as a formidable leader who has played a significant role in our country’s history for seven decades.”
The president said: “We shall, in due course, reflect more extensively on his extraordinary life and diverse contributions to the development of our nation. At this point in time, we embrace the Buthelezi clan in their mourning and pray that the soul of the Prince rests in peace.”
DA leader John Steenhuisen tweeted:
“The DA extends our deep and sincere condolences to the family of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who have lost a dear loved one; to his beloved Inkatha Freedom Party and the Zulu Nation, who have lost a great leader; and indeed to all South Africans, who have lost a founding father.”
The Nelson Mandela Foundation added:
“The Foundation extends deep condolences to the family, friends, and all those touched by the passing of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. His legacy will forever loom large in our country for it is not possible to understand South Africa today without understanding the contributions of Prince Mangosuthu. Hamba Kahle Shenge, we will always remember you.”
AfriForum said in a press statement:
“It is with great sorrow that AfriForum received the sad tiding of the passing of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Inkosi of the Buthelezi traditional community and Prime Minister of the Zulu kingdom and nation.”