Mangosuthu Buthelezi
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Chief Mangosuthu ("Gatsha")Ashpenaz Nathan Buthelezi (born August 27, 1928) is a South African Zulu leader, and leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) which he formed in 1975.
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[edit] Early life
Mangosuthu was born on August 27, 1928, in Mahlabathini, KwaZulu-Natal, to Chief Mathole Buthelezi and Princess Magogo kaDinizulu, the sister of King Solomon kaDinuzulu. He was educated at Impumalanga Primary School, Mahashini, Nongoma 1933-1943, then at Adams College, Amanzimtoti 1944-1947.
Mangosuthu studied at University of Fort Hare from 1948 to 1950, where he joined the African National Congress Youth League and came into contact with Robert Mugabe and Robert Sobukwe. He was expelled from the university after student boycotts. He later completed his degree at the University of Natal.
[edit] Political career
Buthelezi inherited the chieftainship of the large Buthelezi tribe in 1953 (a position he still holds today), though not without controversy — his older brother Mceleli would have taken the post if he had not run foul with the police.
In 1970, Buthelezi was appointed leader of the KwaZulu territorial Authority and in 1976 became chief minister of the semi-independent Bantustan of KwaZulu. The emerging Black Consciousness Movement of the 1970s branded him an Apartheid regime collaborator, because of his strong anti-Communist belief. However, he consistently declined to accept homeland independence or enter into political deals until Nelson Mandela was released from prison and the African National Congress was unbanned.
In 1975 Buthelezi started the IFP with the blessing of the African National Congress, but broke away from the ANC in 1980 and his relationship with the ANC sharply deteriorated.
In 1982, Buthelezi opposed the apartheid government's plan to cede the Ingwavuma region in northern Natal to the Swaziland government. The courts decided in his favour on the grounds that the government had not followed its own black constitution act of 1972, which required consultation with the people of the region.
Buthelezi at first refused to participate in the first democratic South African elections in April 1994 but chose to enter at the very last minute, disrupting the process severely. He narrowly won the elections in KwaZulu-Natal. In May 1994, Buthelezi was appointed Minister of Home Affairs in the first post-Apartheid government, a position he continued to hold following the 1999 elections. He was appointed acting president a number of times during this period.
Buthelezi fell out with the ANC prior to the 2004 elections as a result of his implication in a Heath Commission corruption investigation[1], and lost his position as Minister of Home Affairs.
[edit] Marriage
He was married July 2, 1952 to Irene Audrey Thandekile Mzila, and they had three sons and four daughters:
- Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi, born 1955
- Princess Lethuxolo Buthelezi
- Princess Sibuyiselwe Angela Buthelezi
- Prince Nelisuzulu Benedict Buthelezi, died of HIV/AIDS on April 29, 2004
- Prince Mabhuku Buthelezi, died aged 9 years.
- Prince Ntuthukoyeziwe Buthelezi
- Prince Phumaphesheya Buthelezi
- Princess Phumzile Buthelezi
- Princess Mandisi Sibukakonke Buthelezi, died of HIV/AIDS on August 5, 2004, leaving one son, Zamokuhle
[edit] Trivia
- Voted 15th in the controversial Top 100 Great South Africans poll (see SABC3's Great South Africans)
- Briefly appeared in the movie Zulu as Cetshwayo kaMpande
