UMntwana wakwaPhindangene: Prince Buthelezi the Royal

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi is known as the founder of the Inkatha Freedom Party and the AmaZulu King’s right hand man. He has lived a life of service to the country and his nation of AmaZulu.

Buthelezi passed away on Saturday morning at home in his sleep.

He was discharged from hospital earlier this week after complications due to a procedure to alleviate back pain at a Durban Hospital.

A PRINCE IS BORN

Buthelezi (also know by his clan name Shenge) was born in 1928 to Inkosi Mathole Buthelezi (then the King’s Prime Minister) and Princess Magogo KaDinuzulu at Ceza Swedish Missionary Hospital in the Mahlabathini District.

Buthelezi grew up at KwaDlamahlahla Palace under the care of his uncle, King Solomon kaDinuzulu.

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According to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Foundation, Shenge lost his father at the tender age of 14 in December 1942. The young Prince was then fetched from KwaDlamahlahla Palace by his paternal Family to eMadaka, one of his father’s homesteads, to stab the ground with a spear indicating where his father’s grave should be, and also indicating that he is his heir and successor.

BUTHELEZI’S SCHOOL YEARS

He attended Impumalanga Primary School at Mahashini in Nongoma from 1935 to 1943, then at Adams College, a famous mission school in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, from 1944 to 1946.

In his quest to become a lawyer, Buthelezi would attend the University of Fort Hare, where he joins the ANC Youth League.

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Upon graduating in 1950, Buthelezi got a job as a clerk in Durban where he would come across ANC leaders and stalwarts Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela and was mentored by Chief Albert Luthuli.

It was under Luthuli’s leadership, where he was persuaded to accept his chieftaincy in 1953 while he was doing his articles in a law firm in Durban. However the apartheid regime did not recognise his as Chief of the Buthelezi clan until 1957.

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LIFE OF SERVICE

In 1970, Zululand Territorial Authority (ZTA) became the 7th homeland to be inaugurated by the South African government. This saw the Zulu chiefs electing Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi as the first Chief Executive Officer or Chief Councillor of the new homeland.

As his father and grandfather Buthelezi was appointed as the traditional Prime Minister. He served three Kings: King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and at the time of his passing King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.

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Buthelezi, and his late wife Irene whom, he married in 1952 had eight children together. South African musician and producer Toya Delazy (Latoya Buthelezi) is one of Buthelezi’s grandchildren.

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