THE Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Faith Muthambi, said she has noted with sadness the passing away of Dr Frank Mdlalose who succumbed to COVID-19 on Saturday.
“We extend our condolences to Dr Mdlalose’s family, relatives and friends. We wish them strength during this very difficult tunnel of grief, may Dr Mdlalose’s soul rest in eternal peace,” said Muthambi.
Mdlalose, 89, was the province’s first democratically-elected premier from May 1994 until March 1997.
He also served as SA’s ambassador to Egypt, and retired from active politics in 2005.
Mdlalose played a key role in creating an atmosphere of peace in the province of KwaZulu-Natal when the province was ravaged by violence in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Following the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, Mdlalose worked with the ANC in an effort to stop the violence between ANC and Inkatha supporters.
In 1991, Mdlalose was relieved as Minister of Health and became Minister without Portfolio attached to the office of the chief minister. Mdlalose headed the IFPs’ delegation at Codesa.
He was also a member of the National Peace Committee. In the April 1994 elections the IFP won 51% of the vote in the Kwazulu Natal province, and on 11 May Mdlalose was elected premier.
He resigned from that position in 1996 to pursue a business career.
- Inside Politics
