Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has called upon South Africans to honour the desires of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Traditional Prime Minister of the Zulu nation, for a lasting and resilient reconciliation.
“We carry the heavy weight of memories, and of many heartaches. But difficult as it may be right now, it is important that we fulfil the wishes he had for a sustainable and durable reconciliation, not only between the IFP and the ANC [African National Congress] but amongst all of us as the people of South Africa,” President Ramaphosa said on Saturday.
Ramaphosa said this as he delivered a eulogy at the funeral of Buthelezi.
The president praised Buthelezi for his willingness to collaborate across the political divide and his commitment to finding common ground among political leaders.
“I have always admired his commitment to finding common ground amongst political leaders and parties, particularly between the Inkatha Freedom Party and the African National Congress. He was not a man who let burning issues slide, and he was unafraid to speak truth to power.
📸 President @CyrilRamaphosa delivers a eulogy at the funeral of the late Prince #MangosuthuButhelezi in uLundi, KwaZulu-Natal. pic.twitter.com/mHjTynC0f4
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) September 16, 2023
“And yet, the spirit of camaraderie, respect, empathy and understanding of the immense difficulties we face in rebuilding this country, defined all our interactions. He had respect for the authority of the state and defended the institutions of our democratic order.
“He was always there when we needed to consult with traditional leaders, encouraging people to go and vote in elections and supporting the national effort during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ramaphosa.
He described Buthelezi as a defender of constitutional order and a dignified elder statesman who upheld the principles and values of the constitution and democratic order.
“I believe I can speak on behalf of the members of our Parliament when I say that we will miss his legendary eloquence, the care, diligence and attention to detail with which he performed his duties as an MP.
“As an elder statesman, he was dignity personified. Many will testify that they can still hear his voice permeating through the National Assembly eloquently exhorting all members of Parliament to uphold the principles and values of our constitution and democratic order, and to do so with discipline, decorum and respect for not just each other, but for the people of South Africa.”
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Meanwhile, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, said that Buthelezi’s passing was a significant loss in Parliament, as he was regarded as a guiding elder whose wisdom and experience were respected across political parties.
“We’ve lost in Parliament his presence as a guiding elder [and] we will miss his wisdom and experience. He was our dad, irrespective of our political parties. For us, we must not forget his words of wisdom and the knowledge he shared with us. Many of us have learned something from him,” the Speaker said.
She noted his role in structuring the government of national unity and his lasting impact on South African history.
The funeral was attended by former presidents Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, and Kgalema Motlanthe, as well as other dignitaries, including former Ppresident of Nigeria, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, and IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
