Which South African political party is led by Chief Buthelezi?

Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi (27 August 1928 – 9 September 2023) was a South African politician and Zulu prince who was the oldest Member of Parliament in his country at the time of his death in 2023 and who served as the traditional prime minister to the Zulu royal family since 1954 until his death in September 2023. He was appointed to this prime minister post by current King Misuzulu’s grand-father King Bhekuzulu, a son of King Solomon, who was a brother to Buthelezi’s mother Princess Magogo. He was Chief Minister of the KwaZulu bantustan during apartheid and founded the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in 1975, leading it until August 2019 and became its President Emeritus soon after that. He also served as Minister of Home Affairs from 1994 to 2004.

Buthelezi was one of the most prominent black politicians of the apartheid era and his legacy in that period remains controversial. He was the sole political leader of the KwaZulu government, entering when it was still the native reserve of Zululand in 1970 and remaining in office until it was abolished in 1994. Critics described his administration as a de facto one-party state, intolerant of political opposition and dominated by Inkatha (now the IFP), Buthelezi’s political movement. In parallel to his mainstream political career, Buthelezi held the Inkosi of the Buthelezi clan and was traditional prime minister to three successive Zulu kings, beginning with King Cyprian Bhekuzulu in 1954. He was himself born into the Zulu royal family; his maternal great-grandfather was King Cetshwayo kaMpande, whom he played in the 1964 film Zulu. While leader of KwaZulu, Buthelezi both strengthened and appropriated the public profile of the monarchy, reviving it as a symbol of Zulu nationalism. Bolstered by royal support, state resources, and Buthelezi’s personal popularity, Inkatha became one of the largest political organisations in the country.

Joined the ANC Youth League at the University of Fort Hare: 1949.

Inkosi of the Buthelezi Clan: 1953 to date.

Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch and Nation: 1968 to date.

Chief Executive Officer of the Zulu Territorial Authority: 1970 – 1972

Became Chief Executive Councillor of the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly: 1972 – 1976.

Founded Inkatha yeNkululeko yeSizwe, the national cultural liberation organisation (which later became the Inkatha Freedom Party): 1975

Became Chief Minister of KwaZulu: 1976 – 1994

Refused nominal independence for KwaZulu from the apartheid Government, thereby derailing the grand scheme of apartheid to balkanise South Africa.

Persuaded President FW de Klerk to release Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners, and to allow exiles to return, in order to begin negotiations towards democracy.

Entered Government of National Unity: 1994

Served as Minister of Home Affairs: 1994 – 2004

Appointed Acting President of the Republic 22 times.

President of the IFP: 1975 to date

Political ideals: Constitutional democracy, federalism, a free market economy, inclusivity, non-racialism and social cohesion

Major achievements: Preventing the apartheid regime from balkanising South Africa, securing the citizenship of millions of black South Africans.

Lifting the veil of secrecy on HIV/Aids that allowed education and treatment programmes to succeed.

Securing the release of Mandela and political prisoners to begin democratic negotiations.

Secured funding to found the Mangosuthu University of Technology.

Establishing Ithala Bank when commercial banks would not give loans to black South Africans.

Appointed Chancellor of the University of Zululand.

Provided leadership for the building of some 6 000 classrooms during apartheid.

Secured the continued presence of multi-national corporations in South Africa, protecting thousands of jobs.

Led the establishment of the KwaZulu-Natal Joint Executive Authority, the first non-racial, non-discriminatory government in South Africa.

Established South Africa’s first Department of Nature Conservation.

Awarded Knight Commander of the Star of Africa, for outstanding leadership, by President Tolbert of Liberia.

Awarded the French National Order of Merit.

Received the George Meany Human Rights Award from the Council of Industrial Organisation of the American Federation of Labour (AFL-CIO).

Received the Magna Award for outstanding leadership, Hong Kong.

King’s Cross Award by H.M. King Zwelithini Goodwill ka Bhekuzulu.