Top 10 Interesting Facts about Mangosuthu Buthelezi

Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Author: Ernmuhl at lb. WIKIMEDIA

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Mangosuthu Buthelezi

Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi is a South African politician and Zulu tribal leader. He founded what later on became the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in 1975.

Buthelezi was a chief minister of the KwaZulu bantustan till late 1995. He was born on 27th August 1928 in Mahlabathibu, KwaZulu.

Buthelezi’s father was Chief Mathole Buthelezi and his mother was Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu. The mother of Buthelezi was a sister of King Solomon kaDinuzulu and daughter of King Dinuzulu.

Buthelezi studied at Impumalanga Primary school and later on joined Adams College from 1944 to 1947. He is highly regarded by the Buthelezi clan and got the praise name Shenge.

Buthelezi was the Minister of Home Affairs of South Africa and a member of Zulu royalty. He is also the Traditional Prime Minister of the Zulu nation.

Below are the top 10 Interesting Facts about Mangosuthu Buthelezi;

1. Buthelezi is from a Royal Background

Buthelezi was born from a royal background. His father was Chief of the Zulu known as Mathole Buthelezi.

His mother, Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu was from a royal family. She was the sister of King Solomon kaDinuzulu. Her father was King Dinuzulu.

2. Buthelezi had the Best Education but was Expelled from the University

Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Author: Rob Bogaerts / Anefo. WIKIMEDIA

Coming from a royal background meant that Buthelezi was to get the best education. He studied at Impumalanga Primary school from 1933 to 1943.

Buthelezi then, later on, joined Adams College from 1944 to 1947. After college, Buthelezi joined the University of Fort Hare where he studied from 1948 to 1950.

While at the University of Fort Hare, Buthelezi joined the African National Congress Youth League where he met Robert Mugabe and Robert Sobukwe. However, he never finished this University as he was expelled due to student riots. He, later on, joined the University of Natal where he completed his degree.

3. Buthelezi Played a Role in a Film as His Great Grandfather

Mangosuthu Buthelezi posing for a photo. Author: Emmuhl. WIKIMEDIA

Between 1963 to 1964, Buthelezi held a couple of roles in the film industry. He served as an adviser on the film Zulu which was about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift.

Buthelezi, later on, acted in the film where he played the role of his real-life great grandfather, King Cetshwayo kaMpande.

4. Buthelezi was Branded Apartheid Collaborator after Being Appointed as Leader

In the 1970s when the Apartheid regime was on the high, Buthelezi received a major appointment as the leader of the KwaZulu territorial authority. In 1976, he became the chief minister of the quasi-independent Bantustan.

During the emergence of the Black Consciousness Movement, Buthelezi was brutally trolled by fellow South Africans. He was branded as an Apartheid regime collaborator because of his anti-communist beliefs.

Buthelezi proved that he is not what people were branding him by declining homeland independence and any political deals. He wanted Nelson Mandela to be released and the ban on African National Congress lifted.

5. Buthelezi was Crucial for Setting up Teacher Training and Nursing Colleges

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Buthelezi was crucial in the spearheading of major educational reforms in South Africa. Teaching training and nursing colleges were few across the country.

Buthelezi became crucial in pushing hard and setting up several teacher training and nursing colleges. He also befriended Harry Oppenheimer and requested him to establish Mangosuthu Technikon in Umlazi, South of Durban.

6. Buthelezi was Crucial in Agreement for Racial Peace in South Africa

During the tense periods of the apartheid regime, there were calls for racial peace across South Africa. Buthelezi was crucial in pushing and getting racial peace in South Africa.

On the 4th of January 1974, Buthelezi met with Harry Schwarz who was the Transvaal leader of the United Party. The two leaders had an agreement and signed the Mahlabathini Declaration of Faith.

The two lenders agreed on a plan for racial peace across South Africa. This plan was to be a blueprint for the South African government to bring racial peace across the country.

Buthelezi and Harry managed to agree on involving the people to draw up constitutional proposals for changes. They also managed to bring up the idea of political changes that were non-violent.

7. Buthelezi was Accused of Paramilitary Training

Buthelezi became renowned and feared leader in the 1980s and 1990s. He was later on accused of paramilitary training.

Buthelezi was accused of working with General Magnus Malan in training the youth in Ulundi. The accusation was that they were setting a paramilitary unity since Buthelezi feared lots of property and life were lost during conflicts between 1984 and 1994.

Buthelezi was implicated in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a person who grossly violated human rights. Buthelezi and the Truth Commission agreed to settle the matter out of Court.

8. Buthelezi Married One Wife and Had Eight Children

Like other African leaders, Buthelezi believed in children being one of his wealth. Buthelezi married Irene Audrey Thandekile Mzila on 2nd July 1952.

They had eight children, three sons and five daughters. Unfortunately, the wife of Buthelezi died on 25th March 2019.

9. Buthelezi took President Thabo Mbeki to Court over their Refusal to Sign his Proposal into Law

Buthelezi is a leader who is always serious on matters regarding human rights. He became the first sitting Cabinet Minister to take a President to court in South Africa.

As the 2004 general election was approaching, Buthelezi had a proposal of overhauling immigration laws. Then-President Thabo Mbeki refused to sign the proposal of Buthelezi into law.

Buthelezi who was a Cabinet Minister took Thabo Mbeki to Court in an attempt to have the immigration regulations stricter.

10. Buthelezi Declined Offer of Becoming Deputy President

After the refusal of making immigration laws stricter and take the President to court, Buthelezi was given a top position in the next government which he declined. After the 2004 general election, Buthelezi was given the offer to become the deputy president which he declined.

The Deputy president offered to come in exchange for the IFP to relinquish its Premiership dominance in the KwaZulu-Natal province. After Buthelezi declined the offer of being the Deputy President, IFP decided to leave the coalition government and became the opposition.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi will always remain to be a great South African leader who contributed to major reforms in the country. As a leader, he influenced several changes that South Africans will always be grateful for.