SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 29: IFP leader prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi during the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Is’thunzi’ Sabafazi – The Dignity of Women – conversation at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Soweto Campus on November 29, 2018 in Soweto, South Africa.
(Photo by Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu)
BREAKING: Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi DIES
Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi died in the early hours of Saturday morning, just two weeks after celebrating his 95th birthday
SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 29: IFP leader prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi during the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Is’thunzi’ Sabafazi – The Dignity of Women – conversation at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Soweto Campus on November 29, 2018 in Soweto, South Africa.
(Photo by Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu)
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has died at age 95.
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed Buthelezi’s passing in a statement released on Saturday morning, 9 September 2023.
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RAMAPHOSA: PRINCE BUTHELEZI WAS AN OUTSTANDING LEADER
President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi for his leadership, saying in part: “Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been an outstanding leader in the political and cultural life of our nation, including the ebss and flows of our liberation struggle, the transition which secured our freedom in 1994 and our democratic dispensation”
Buthelezi died in the early hours of Saturday morning, just two weeks after celebrating his 95th birthday.
Ramaphosa has expressed condolences to the Buthelezi family.
“My thoughts and prayers and those of government and our nation go out to the Royal Household who have been blessed to share uMntwana waKwaPhindangene’s extended lifetime with him, as well as to the Zulu Nation and the leadership and membership of the Inkatha Freedom Party,” he said.
The president added that details surrounding Prince Buthelezi’s funeral will be announced in due course.
“Announcements will be made in due course, based on consultations between government and the family, on the arrangements to mourn and honour the Inkosi of the Buthelezi clan as a formidable leader who has played a significant role in our country’s history for seven decades. We shall, in due course, reflect more extensively on his extraordinary life and diverse contributions to the development of our nation”
President Cyril Ramaphosa
PRINCE MANGOSUTHU’S HEALTH PROBLEMS
The Prime Minister to the Zulu Royal Household had been admitted to hospital in July after experiencing difficulties from a back pain treatment operation. Buthelezi also spent his birthday in hospital and received well wishes from the likes of Archbishop Thabo Makgoba.
ALSO READ: Birthday wishes pour in for Buthelezi’s 95th birthday
