Mandela trusted Buthelezi despite lies, says Ntuli

By Celani Sikhakhane

• Thami Ntuli says Nelson Mandela trusted Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi enough to appoint him acting president more than 20 times.

• Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi was remembered at his Mahlabathini grave, which has been declared a heritage site honouring his life and history.

Nelson Mandela trusted Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi despite what KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli described as years of misinformation aimed at destroying the late politician’s reputation.

Ntuli said Mandela’s relationship with Buthelezi showed the level of trust between two of South Africa’s most important political leaders.

He was speaking at the annual Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Day of Remembrance at Buthelezi’s resting place at kwaPhindangene Royal Residence in Mahlabathini in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.

The day honors Buthelezi’s birthday on 27 August.

It was officially declared by the Amafa and Research Institute last year.

Buthelezi was born on 27 August 1928. He would have turned 98 this year.

He died in 2023 at the age of 95 after a long illness.

Ntuli said Buthelezi faced years of attacks on his reputation because of what he described as misinformation fed to South Africans.

“Our first democratic President of South Africa, Dr Nelson Mandela never allowed the lies against Buthelezi to overshadow his trust for him,” Ntuli said.

He pointed to Mandela’s decision to appoint Buthelezi as acting president of South Africa more than 20 times.

Buthelezi was the leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party, which was in opposition to Mandela’s African National Congress.

Ntuli said the appointments showed that Mandela continued to trust Buthelezi despite their political differences.

“Buthelezi suffered a lot in South African politics because of his tainted image that was deliberately destroyed by those who have their own agenda,” Ntuli said.

He said criticism of Buthelezi has continued even after his death, including questions about why government should take part in events honouring him.

Ntuli blamed this on information people had received about Buthelezi over many years.

The remembrance event also heard about another example of the relationship between Mandela and Buthelezi.

While Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island, he would write love letters to his wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and send them to Buthelezi to pass on to her.

Buthelezi was born to Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu, daughter of Zulu King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo, and Inkosi Mathole Buthelezi of the Buthelezi clan.

His involvement in politics was inspired by his uncle Dr Pixley kaIsaka Seme, who co-founded the African National Congress in 1912 and later served as its president from 1930 to 1936.

Buthelezi later joined the African National Congress Youth League while studying at the University of Fort Hare.

In 1975, he founded the Inkatha Freedom Party.

Buthelezi also served as traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch for decades.

He first served under King Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, followed by King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and later King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.

Buthelezi’s grave has been developed into a memorial containing pictures and a summary of his life and history.

It stands next to the grave of his mother, Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu.

His grave has also been declared a heritage site.

Pictured above: Inkatha Freedom Party leaders Velenkosini Hlabisa and Thami Ntuli lay a wreath at Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s grave in Mahlabathini on Wednesday.

Image source: KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier