Mangosuthu Buthelezi, 95, South African Politician and Zulu Prince, Dies

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the Zulu prince and South African politician who led the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) for decades, died on Saturday, September 9, 2023. He was 95.

Buthelezi was born into royalty on August 27, 1928, in Mahlabathini, KwaZulu-Natal. He was the son of Mnyamana Buthelezi, the traditional prime minister to King Cetshwayo, and Princess Magogo.

Buthelezi was educated at Adams College and the University of Natal. He began his political career in the 1950s, working with the African National Congress (ANC) to fight against apartheid. However, he broke with the ANC in 1975, forming the IFP.

The IFP was a Zulu nationalist party that opposed the ANC's goal of a unitary South Africa. Buthelezi argued that the Zulu people should have their own self-governing homeland.

The IFP and the ANC clashed violently in the 1980s and 1990s, leading to thousands of deaths. Buthelezi was accused of complicity in the violence, but he denied the charges.

In 1994, Buthelezi and the IFP joined the ANC-led government. Buthelezi served as Minister of Home Affairs until 2004. He remained a member of Parliament until his death.

Buthelezi was a controversial figure, but he was also a respected elder statesman. He was a strong advocate for the Zulu people and for the rights of all South Africans.

He is survived by his wife, Zanele, and their four children.

Legacy

Buthelezi's legacy is complex and contested. He is remembered as a fierce defender of the Zulu people, but he is also criticized for his role in the violence of the 1980s and 1990s.

Despite his flaws, Buthelezi was a significant figure in South African history. He played a key role in the transition to democracy and in the establishment of the post-apartheid government. He will be remembered as a complex and controversial figure who left a lasting mark on South Africa.