Prince Buthelezi remembered as ‘a man of principle’
Inkatha Freedom Party founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been hailed as a man of faith and principle.
Thousands of mourners gathered at a memorial service held at the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Regional stadium in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday to pay their last respects.
The memorial service comes ahead of a special official funeral, due to take place on Saturday.
Thursday is set to be the last day for mourners to visit the family at the Buthelezi's KwaPhindangene homestead in Ulundi.
The prince's family will use Thursday and Friday to conduct their own unique, private and traditional rituals.
However, Prince Zusifa Buthelezi (Prince Mangosuthu’s son) said an exception will be made for his father’s close international friends when they arrive in the country to pay their last respects.
“My family and I know all too well how much Umntwana gave to the IFP. We know the countless days and nights that he was away from home serving the cause of freedom, justice and stability of South Africa. We could never begrudge him for the time spent away because it was clear that he was fulfilling his God given duty”.
IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa said there will never be a leader like Prince Buthelezi in the IFP again.
“As the leader of a party that Umntwana founded and natured, raised into a political force to be reckoned with. I believe, I can speak on behalf of every IFP member when I say that there will never again be a leader like Umntwana waKwaPhindangene.
“The loss of Prince Buthelezi has left a gapping vacuum in the IFP, Zulu Kingdom and in the South African political landscape”.
EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the IFP and Buthelezi should not be shaken by opportunists and ignorant people.
“Never be shaken by the negativity, never be shaken by the ill-informed ignorant people who are taking platform to say all types of things. Never be shaken by opportunists, hypocrites who want to educate us about our own history and the leadership that stabilised this country into a politically peaceful environment”.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to be among the 10,000 people attending the funeral of the IFP founder and Traditional Prime Minister to the Monarch and the Zulu Nation.
Zulu maidens, regiments or Amabutho, as well as hundreds of members of the IFP Youth Brigade and structures of the party, will be in attendance.
Prince Buthelezi passed away on Saturday at the age of 95.
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