Buthelezi’s role must be saluted

IT’S sad but true that while robust debate is to be welcomed, interaction between political parties in our country has been far from healthy in recent times.

The public debate has regrettably descended into a series of animated gestures, angry rhetoric and bitter infighting, with very little visible evidence that our public representatives can come together to find common ground on the many pressing problems facing our country.

Our political leaders sometimes appear more intent on winning petty, personal battles rather than the war against instability, poverty and intolerance.

It is in such uncertain times that voices of reason and maturity need to prevail – voices like that of respected IFP president Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who has just celebrated his 90th birthday. It is such a pity that his illustrious career is now drawing to a close as he prepares to hand over the leadership of his party next month, after launching the IFP in the 1970s.

It has not been an easy ride for Buthelezi, who faced many tribulations over his relationship with the ANC during the Struggle for liberation. While the IFP was formed as a front for the ANC against apartheid, he says he often found himself being vilified. But Buthelezi has been magnanimous in facing these challenges, saying he holds no animosity towards the ANC.

In Parliament, he is widely recognised as an elder statesman and is respected across parties lines, often rising to cool tempers and talk reason during heated debates.

But perhaps his most valuable asset to the country is his unremitting commitment to the cause of social cohesion and his strong opposition to racial baiting, which seeks only to fan the flames of inter-racial conflict.

Buthelezi has always been a close friend of the Indian community in KwaZulu-Natal, often lauding them for helping in the fight against apartheid by building numerous schools for blacks.

He’s always made it clear that although Indian South Africans were also oppressed under apartheid, they sacrificed the little they had to help the former KwaZulu government by building schools.

Despite his advancing age, Buthelezi is still committed to pursuing his many social cohesion programmes and promoting better relations between African and Indian people in the country.

On the occasion of his birthday, POST extends its warm greetings to Prince Buthelezi and its gratitude for the role he has played in making the country a better place for all South Africans.