ULUNDI, South Africa: Zulu prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a powerful but divisive leader implicated in a wave of deadly violence that marked the birth of modern South Africa, will be laid to rest in a state funeral today (Saturday).
Thousands are expected to pay tribute to the once-feared founder of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), who died a week ago aged 95.
The funeral will take place at a stadium in Ulundi, the ancient capital of the Zulu kingdom, and IFP heartland.
Several hundred people gathered Friday to accompany Buthelezi’s body to the family homestead before the funeral.
Men in traditional Zulu warrior attire chanted and danced, stomping their feet as they waited for hours in the scorching sun.
Carrying shields and spears and dressed in leopard skins, some wore crowns bearing Buthelezi’s portrait.
“We have lost such a powerful man; we need to take it all out and mourn, sing for him,” said Khaylalihle Buthelezi, 39, a relative who runs a guest house. “He made us Zulu very proud.”
Mourners gathered in Ulundi to bid farewell to the veteran South African politician and Zulu chief at his state funeral, recognizing his significant role in the fight against white-minority rule. However, his passing at the age of 95 has reignited debates regarding his legacy.
Buthelezi was born into the Zulu royal family and held the position of their traditional prime minister until his demise. His political journey began in the mid-1970s when he founded the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) after growing disillusioned with the African National Congress (ANC) during the apartheid era. He opposed the ANC’s approach of armed action and sanctions, contending that these measures harmed black South Africans.
In the eyes of his supporters, Buthelezi deserves accolades for his efforts in promoting peace and safeguarding the dignity of the Zulu people during a time of significant adversity. Professor Kealeboga Maphunye, the head of African politics at the University of South Africa, acknowledged Buthelezi’s role as a respected traditional leader who protected the dignity of black South Africans, especially the Zulus, against the apartheid regime.
Yet, criticism arises from the violence during the transition to multi-party democracy in the early 1990s, where an estimated 20,000 people lost their lives in clashes between the ANC and IFP. Some believe that Buthelezi’s legacy was tarnished during this period due to actions perpetrated by his supporters.
Media outlets have presented contrasting views on his legacy. While some label him as a “murderous apartheid collaborator,” others emphasize his dedication to preserving Zulu customs and rituals during a crucial phase in South Africa’s history.
As the nation commemorates this significant figure, politics inevitably enters the discussion. Accusations have surfaced that certain parties are exploiting the occasion for political gain in the lead-up to upcoming elections. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), for instance, faced criticism for potentially revising history to secure votes.
For the IFP, the funeral represents an opportunity to garner support, and for other political entities, it’s a chance to court a potential coalition partner in the KwaZulu-Natal province, home to the country’s largest ethnic group.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has ordered flags to be flown half-mast across the country, will deliver a eulogy at the funeral.
“Buthelezi has been an outstanding leader in the political and cultural life of our nation, including the ebbs and flows of our liberation struggle,” Ramaphosa said, announcing the Zulu nationalist’s death last Saturday.
Buthelezi was once a foe of Ramaphosa and his late boss Nelson Mandela, as the pair led negotiations to end white rule in South Africa.
For years, he was defined by his bitter rivalry with the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
The party, which has governed since the first post-apartheid elections in 1994, was his political home until he broke away to form the Inkatha movement in 1975.
Born of royal blood, he was to some the embodiment of the Zulu spirit: proud and feisty. —AFP/APP/Monitoring
