I should not eat roti because of diabetes, but I still do
Mangosuthu Buthelezi recently stepped down as president of the IFP. He is also the traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation. Chanelle Lutchman spoke to him as an elder in society
IN MANGOSUTHU Buthelezi, the Indian community have a friend.
Speaking to the POST he said: “I believe in social cohesion. I grew up with Indian brothers and sisters. We studied together and even travelled on trains together. It’s disheartening to see now, at my age, that emerging organisations, such as (the) Mayibuye (African Forum), have adopted a hostile attitude towards Indian employers, trying to blame them for all the ills of the country.”
Buthelezi said he also knew of black employers who treated their employees badly.
“I don’t think it’s an Indian trait to terrorise but to generalise like that. It saddens me because as a KwaZulu-Natalian, I cannot imagine how this province can be what it is without the Indian community.”
Buthelezi said the Indian community played a significant role in KZN by making jobs available.
“This community has employed our people and during the struggle for liberation, they joined together with us. Many of our people have jobs because they are employed by Indian people. It’s not that Indian people were not oppressed, they were oppressed but they created employment for many people who could not put food on their tables.”
The 91 year old said those who were trying to create a rift between Indians and Africans needed to be reminded of the country’s history.
“Those people are playing with fire. How can we agree with their sentiments? I would like to remind them of the Divine Life Society and even the Lockhat brothers, who continue doing their bit to uplift communities.
“At the Divine Life Society, there are poor Indian people who donate their hard-earned money just so that the society can build classrooms for our kids.”
Buthelezi said the first Indian wedding he attended was that of South African writer and anti-apartheid activist Fatima Meer.
“When I met this young lady, she was studying with me. We bonded and our friendship blossomed. I remember attending her wedding. It was the first Indian wedding I attended.
“She was getting married to Ismail Meer and as a Zulu male I was very confused, because, in our culture, a Buthelezi and a Buthelezi cannot get married… I couldn’t understand how a Meer could marry a Meer.”
He said it was also his first encounter with Indian dishes.
“I tasted roti for the first time and I loved it. I should not eat roti because of diabetes, but I continue to enjoy it even today,” he laughed.
He said others, like Durban attorney Pat Poovalingam and Mohammed Mayet, were also dear to him and had housed him and his family at their homes.
Buthelezi also hailed IFP Chief Whip, Narend Singh, as being one of the “greatest” leaders in the party.
Buthelezi lost his wife of more than 60 years earlier this year.
He paid a moving tribute to Indlunkulu Irene Audrey Thandekile and became emotional while addressing mourners, including President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“How do I say farewell to the love of my life? No man could have asked for a better wife than Indlunkulu Irene Audrey Thandekile. How then do I say farewell?
“The only way I can, believing not only that this is our last goodbye, but that there will be another hello, spoken on the presence of our Lord. That day will surely heal the wound that has felled me now,” he said.
For a man who married one woman and stayed true to her, he finds difficulty in understanding the high levels of violence against woman in our society.
“Last week, I was in Johannesburg. I belong to a group called Citizens ZA and we were addressed by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. He spoke about the attacks on women and children.
“I think we all need to recognise how serious this is and realise that we actually have an obligation as South Africans to stand by and protect our women and children.”
Buthelezi explains much of society’s ills to the lack of respect that we have for one another.
“Over the years a lot of people have lost respect. Even in Parliament sometimes we see the leaders screaming at one another and speaking anyhow. It is embarrassing, it’s very worrying because now even our people are doing it.”
As for his future: Buthelezi said he was grateful that he was still able to serve the country and its people and he would continue to for as long as he could.