The fiery Zulu chief, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, has died at the age of 95.

The towering figure in South African politics died in the early hours of Saturday, two weeks after celebrating his 95th birthday.

BBC reports that during the racist apartheid regime, Buthelezi founded the Zulu Inkatha party after becoming disillusioned with the African National Congress (ANC).

Thousands were killed in clashes between supporters of the two parties in the early 1990s.

But he was later welcomed back into the fold, serving as President Nelson Mandela's minister of home affairs.

Chief Buthelezi was a shrewd but controversial politician, who disagreed with the ANC's tactics of armed action against white-minority rule and trod a moderate path as leader of an ethnic-Zulu homeland.

He was opposed to international sanctions on South Africa, arguing that they would only harm the country's black majority.

During the clashes in the early 1990s, Nelson Mandela's ANC accused him of collaborating with the white-minority government.

Some feared the violence could lead to a civil war and derail the transition to democracy which saw Mandela become president in 1994.

Many believed that members of the apartheid security forces were working with the Inkatha movement to fight the ANC but Buthelezi always denied that.

President Cyril Ramaphosa led tributes, describing Chief Buthelezi as a "formidable leader".

He said he had "played a significant role in our country's history for seven decades".

The president added: "Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been an outstanding leader in the political and cultural life of our nation, including the ebbs and flows of our liberation struggle, the transition which secured our freedom in 1994 and our democratic dispensation."

He said Chief Buthelezi had died in the early hours of Saturday, two weeks after celebrating his 95th birthday.

Chief Buthelezi was hereditary chief of the Zulus, South Africa's largest ethnic group.

He was born into the Zulu royal family - his mother was Princess Magogo kaDinzulu, the sister of the Zulu king. Chief Buthelezi played the role of his own great-grandfather, the Zulu King Cetshwayo, in the 1964 film Zulu.

He was prime minister of KwaZulu, the Zulu homeland, and in 1975 founded the Inkatha Freedom Party, a Zulu political and cultural movement. He stepped down as party leader in 2019 after 44 years at its helm.

https://saharareporters.com/2023/09/09/popular-zulu-leader-mangosuthu-buthelezi-dies-aged-95-south-africa

He has gone to rest... Life goes on

Who go come marry his many wives, Nlfpmod. Life no balance, de man tried o, even when dem accuse him of spreading HIV, he still kpai at 95, na only 5 remains to clock 100.

Buthelezi. Used to hear his name far back. Didn't know he was still alive.

GanagiBitrus:
Buthelezi. Used to hear his name far back. Didn't know he was still alive.

Inkatha Freedom party, him dey on as his manhood don live 95 years.

.

Marrying to many wives is vanity

How many wives did he have exactly, according to Nigerian Nairaland historians? I only know of one.

That's the path pf life everyone must follow. He has gone, tomorrow it may be you.

He’s gone but his Manhood lives On


Sai Baba 🙌🏿

Greet SHAKA D ZULU for me

Rip

Wow! A great Zulu warrior is gone....
RIP to him....

Prince mango rest in peace

4

South African statesman Mangosuthu Buthelezi passes away at 95. He was a prominent figure in the tapestry of SA's history, ...He was Chief Minister of the KwaZulu bantustan during apartheid 2048 cupcakes and founded the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in 1975. He also served as Minister of Home Affairs from 1994 to 2004. Buthelezi was one of the most prominent black politicians of the apartheid era and his legacy in that period remains controversial. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a former member of the ANC Youth League, founded the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement (INCLM) on 21 March 1975. In 1994 the name was changed to Inkatha Freedom Party

A pill we all need to swallow.... In the next 300 years, none of us here would still be alive

TMKsouth:
How many wives did he have exactly, according to Nigerian Nairaland historians? I only know of one.

Not sure he had many wives. His son and I were in uni. I think people are confusing him with the king of swaziland

Still looks younger than Thieffnubu the yeast infested teeth Jagabandit

Rip old niggar

He's 95.

Hadn't heard a iut him in years.

May his soul rest in peace 🙏🏾.

Ok

Valar Morghilis

Rest well Kingmaker

Rest In Peace great king!

Please check our signature for loans

What is that is party name?

Inkaklta or something.

He is was once an opposition to Nelson Madela's ANC in Kwazulu-Natal.

Hmm