Lerato Mbhiza
President Cyril Ramaphosa said Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi fought for the preservation of not only Zulu customs and culture but all indigenous cultures in South Africa.
Ramaphosa said Buthelezi respected all kingships and traditional leaders while speaking at the Special Official Funeral of the founding President of the IFP in Ulundi on Saturday.
Buthelezi was the founder of the IFP and served as the first Home Affairs Minister in a democratic South Africa. He died last week at the age of 95.
Ramaphosa said Buthelezi’s contribution to the production of the Shaka iLembe series is one of many cultural endowments that he leaves behind for the benefit of future generations.
“Many of us have been enjoying the beautifully crafted production of the television series, Shaka iLembe, that chronicles the history of King Shaka and the formation of the Zulu Kingdom,” he said.
The President added that Umntwana was a voice for the marginalised and the vulnerable.
“Who can forget his great courage on International Aids Day on the 1st of December 2004 when he told the world that HIV/Aids had struck inside his own family, taking away two of his children”.
One of the lessons we can take from the life of uShenge was that as a leader he was willing to collaborate across the political divide, Ramaphosa said.
“At a political level, we did not always agree. We often found ourselves on opposing sides of one or another issue. He never shied away from a harsh word, a criticism, or from voicing his dissent.”
Ramaphosa said he admired Shenge’s commitment to finding common ground among political leaders and parties, particularly between the Inkatha Freedom Party and the African National Congress.
“Twenty-nine years ago, on the eve of the first all-race elections, South Africa stood on the brink of catastrophe. Despite the excitement building up to the historic event, the country was in turmoil; racked by a spiral of political violence that had begun in the mid-1980s.
“The country was also under threat from a right-wing uprising, and from so-called third force elements sowing discord amongst our people.
“Many people were displaced from their homes. Many people died. Today is not the day to point fingers and cast blame” he said.
INSIDE POLITICS
