Prince Buthelezi remains principled against all odds

I WOULD like to salute Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi for telling the truth and remaining principled against all odds.

He is among the few politicians left from the time of our parents. This says a lot about his political experience and ability to read the political landscape.

We thank him for not misleading this country when it was so easy to do so. He waited for the ANC to be unbanned before he could enter into serious talks about the future of this country.

He embraced all leaders and members of former liberation movements, like the PAC and ANC, inside and outside South Africa.

This reminds me of when former Mozambican president, Joaquim Chissano asked OR Tambo of Buthelezi: “Who is he?”

Tambo did not blink when he said: “Buthelezi is our man.”

It took a credible leader like Tambo not to insult and discredit Buthelezi by calling him names as others did. Chissano stated this fact several times during his South African visits.

We therefore thank you, Buthelezi, for remaining principled on the issue of negotiations instead of using the armed struggle to fight apartheid.

You stood up to apartheid giants, prime ministers John Vorster and PW Botha and their heavyweight ministers like Jimmy Kruger, Kobie Kotzee and Pik Botha. Had they listened to you on both sides of the fence, former liberation movements and the National Party leadership, this country would have long ago become an industrial giant.

You were insulted when you opposed disinvestment and sanctions. We are jobless today because of the short-sightedness of politicians who wanted power and never became worried about empty stomachs and suffering.