Buthelezi served well
IT IS with a sense of sadness that one hears of IFP leader Nkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi passing on the leadership baton to the mayor of Hlabisa.
The IFP, under the leadership of then-chief minister Buthelezi, has steered South Africa and KwaZuluNatal through a very tough era, from the 1970s right up to the present day.
His politics involved bread-and-butter issues and the progress of places such as iSithebe, Richards Bay and Ulundi were in part due to his and his party members’ vision and leadership in the early 1970s.
The likes of the late Dr Oscar Dhlomo, Dr Frank Mdlalose and Dr Ben Ngubane were all groomed and promoted under Chief Buthelezi.
Punctuality and attendance at various meetings, even to this day, are his steadfast hallmark.
Seeing the ZG ministerial cars in the early 1980s (which were black 230Es) in Isipingo Rail was actually a sign of the future of South Africa to an “Indian” teenager. For example, ZG 2.
As a leader, Chief Buthelezi had accepted a very tough deal as a selfgoverning state and steadfastly refused independence for the 13 territories known as KwaZulu.
This was a major stumbling block for grand apartheid.
Dealing with the Nats and facing the urban township youths in then-Natal came at a heavy price for many IFP and ANC members.
He was politically very controversial and witty – a famous line was: if the guy has anything between his ears!
In the end, as for his brand of “trust” and hope for his constituents; the IFP faced many challenges, including party members being poached.
Even to this day the IFP retained its voter strength in rural areas north of the Tugela; the IFP’s stronghold.
The fact that the IFP could win Jacob Zuma’s home ward in many elections with an ordinary candidate speaks volumes for a party that faced a challenge from the unbanned liberation movement of the ANC and in the president’s own village.
This should have been an eye-opener to the ANC.
One of Chief Buthelezi’s successes is really the town of Ulundi – unlike Jacob Zuma, who wasted his time on his personal palace and fort.
Ulundi was started with an idea on a piece of paper.
My suggestion would have been somewhere near Empangeni for the parliament, but then there would have been no Ulundi.
In fact, Ulundi is truly an African city with no colonial hang-ups or heritage barring the battle.
Amafa (Amafa aKwaZulu-Natali) would have a problem finding a listed building! Ulundi, despite the change of capital and exodus of civil servants etc, is thriving and successful.
Here one can hardly point a finger towards any dealings or issues where Chief Buthelezi had benefited or enriched himself at the state’s expense.
His house, once a feature on South African road maps, has not attracted any media scrutiny or attention.
Even hospitals such as Prince Mshiyeni, Ngwelezana and the clinics dotted along the countryside were also success stories of the then-KwaZulu government.
All the best in your new role, Chief Buthelezi. Muhammad Omar Durban North