Mangosuthu Buthelezi Biography and Wiki

Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African politician as well as a Zulu tribal leader who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in the year 1975 and was Chief Minister of the KwaZulu bantustan until the year 1994.

Buthelezi was born in Mahlabathini, South Africa as Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi. Buthelezi was Minister of Home Affairs of South Africa from the year 1994 to 2004. Often, he is referred to as Shenge, which is part of the Buthelezi clan’s praises.

Throughout most of the apartheid era, Buthelezi was considered among the foremost black leaders. He played a major role in creating a framework for a negotiated solution to South Africa’s racial conflict, signing the landmark Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith in the year 1974 with Harry Schwarz.

During the CODESA negotiations of the early 1990s, he represented the IFP. Following the introduction of universal suffrage in the year 1994 general election, Buthelezi led the IFP to join the government of national unity, led by Nelson Mandela. Buthelezi worked as Minister of Home Affairs until the year 2004. He continued to serve as both leader of the IFP and an MP, retaining his seat in the year 2014 general election.

Buthelezi announced that he would not seek re-election to another term as party president of the IFP on 20 January 2019. The party elected Velenkosini Hlabisa as his successor at the party’s year 2019 National General Conference. He played the role of King Cetshwayo kaMpande (his own maternal great-grandfather) in the film Zulu in the year 1964.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Age

Mangosuthu Buthelezi is 92 years old as of 2020, he was born on 27 August 1928, in Mahlabathini, South Africa. He celebrates his birthday on August 27 every year and his birth sign is Virgo.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Height

Buthelezi stands at an average height and has moderate weight. He appears to be quite tall in stature if his photos, relative to his surroundings, are anything to go by. However, details regarding his actual height and other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We are keeping tabs and will update this information once it is out.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Education, University

Mangosuthu attended Impumalanga Primary School, Mahashini, Nongoma from 1933 to 1943, then at Adams College, Amanzimtoti from 1944 to 1947.

He studied at the University of Fort Hare from the year 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. Later he completed his degree at the University of Natal.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Family, Parents and Siblings

Mangosuthu Buthelezi was born and raised by his parents Chief Mathole Buthelezi(father) and Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu(mother)the sister of King Solomon kaDinuzulu in Mahlabathini, KwaZulu. Buthelezi has two sisters known as Princess Morgina Dotwana and Gogo Elphina Ncwane.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Wife

Mangosuthu Buthelezi was married Irene Audrey Thandekile Mzila. The couple married on 2 July 1952. His wife Irene Audrey was born in 1929 and died on 25 March 2019 and buried on 29 March 2019. They had three sons and five daughters Together.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Children

Buthelezi has three sons namely: Nelisuzulu Benedict Buthelezi, Zuzifa Buthelezi and Phumaphesheya Buthelezi and five daughters Lethuxolo Buthelezi, Phumzile Buthelezi, Mabhuku Snikwakonke Buthelezi, Sibuyiselwe Angela Buthelezi and Mandisi Sibukakonke Buthelezi.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Net worth

Buthelezi has an estimated net worth of 5 million South African Rand as of 2020. This includes his Assets, Money, and Income. His primary source of income is his career as a politician as well as a Zulu tribal leader. Through his various sources of income, Buthelezi has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Measurements and Facts

Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Bio and Wiki

• Full Names: Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi
• Popular As: Zulu tribal leader
• Gender: Male
• Occupation / Profession: Politician
• Nationality: South African
• Race / Ethnicity: African
• Religion: To be updated
• Sexual Orientation: Straight

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Birthday

• Age / How Old?: 92 years old as of 2020
• Zodiac Sign: To be updated
• Date of Birth: 27 August 1928
• Place of Birth: Mahlabathini, South Africa
• Birthday: August 27

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Body Measurements

• Body Measurements: To be updated
• Height / How Tall?: Average
• Weight: Moderate
• Eye Color: Black
• Hair Color: Black
• Shoe Size: To be updated

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Family and Relationship

• Father (Dad): Chief Mathole Buthelezi
• Mother: Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu
• Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Princess Morgina Dotwana and Gogo Elphina Ncwane
• Marital Status: Married
• Wife/Spouse: Married to Irene Audrey Thandekile Mzila
• Dating / Girlfriend: Not Applicable
• Children:  Sons (Nelisuzulu Benedict Buthelezi, Zuzifa Buthelezi, and Phumaphesheya Buthelezi ) Daughter(s) (Lethuxolo Buthelezi, Phumzile Buthelezi, Mabhuku Snikwakonke Buthelezi, Sibuyiselwe Angela Buthelezi and Mandisi Sibukakonke Buthelezi)

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Networth and Salary

• Net Worth: 5 million South African Rand
• Salary: Under Review
• Source of Income: Politician

Mangosuthu Buthelezi House and Cars

• Place of living: KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
• Cars: Car Brand to be Updated

Mangosuthu Buthelezi History and Ifp

The demise of the Government of National Unity

Prior to the 2004 general election, President Thabo Mbeki refused to sign into law Buthelezi’s attempt to overhaul the Immigration laws. For the first time in South African history, a Cabinet Minister took the President to court in an attempt to secure stricter immigration regulations.

Following the 2004 election, President Thabo Mbeki offered Buthelezi the Deputy Presidency, which he refused, as in exchange the IFP would have to relinquish the Premiership of the IFP-dominated province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Since 1994, South Africa had been governed by a multi-party Government of National Unity, consisting of the ANC, the South African Communist Party, and the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Chieftainship

Mangosuthu Buthelezi inherited the chieftainship of the large Buthelezi tribe in 1953: a position he still holds today. In 1963 and 1964 he served as an adviser on the film Zulu about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift and starring Michael Caine and Stanley Baker.

Buthelezi also acted in the film, playing the role of his real-life great-grandfather, King Cetshwayo kaMpande. In 1970, Buthelezi was appointed the leader of KwaZulu territorial Authority and in 1976 became the chief minister of the quasi-independent Bantustan of KwaZulu.

The emerging Black Consciousness Movement of the 1970s branded him an Apartheid regime collaborator, because of his strong anti-Communist beliefs.

However, he consistently declined homeland independence and political deals until Nelson Mandela was released from prison and the ban on the African National Congress was lifted.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Inkatha Freedom Party

In 1975, Buthelezi started the IFP with the blessing of the African National Congress but broke away from the ANC in 1979 and his relationship with the ANC sharply deteriorated.

He was encouraged by Oliver Tambo, the President of the ANC mission-in-exile, to revive the cultural movement. In the mid-1970s, it was clear that many in the Black Consciousness Movement were at odds with Buthelezi’s politics.

For instance, during the funeral of Robert Sobukwe; he was barred from attending the service since they argued that he was a notable collaborator of the National Party government.

In 1979, Inkosi Buthelezi and the Inkatha Yenkululeko Yesizwe, as it was then known, severed ties with the main ANC since the ANC favored military strategies by employing the use of Umkhonto we Sizwe, Spear of the Nation.

The meeting that was held in London between the two organizations did not succeed in ironing out differences. In 1982, Buthelezi opposed the National Party government’s plan to cede the Ingwavuma region in northern Natal to the Government of Swaziland.

The courts decided in his favor 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.

He was also instrumental in setting up the teacher training and nursing colleges throughout the late-1970s and the early-1980s. He requested Harry Oppenheimer, his great friend, and ally, to establish Mangosuthu Technikon in Umlazi, south of Durban.

In 1993, he broke the record for the world’s longest-ever speech in an address he gave to the Natal legislature.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith

On 4 January 1974, the Transvaal leader of the United Party Harry Schwarz met with Mangosuthu Buthelezi and signed the Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith. They agreed on a five-point plan for racial peace in South Africa.

The declaration’s purpose was to provide a blueprint for the government of South Africa for racial peace in South Africa. It called for negotiations involving all peoples, to draw up constitutional proposals stressing opportunity for all with a Bill of Rights to safeguard these rights.

It suggested that the federal concept was the appropriate framework for such changes to take place. It also first affirmed that political change must take place through non-violent means. The declaration was the first of such agreements by acknowledged black and white leaders in South Africa that affirmed these principles.

The commitment to the peaceful pursuit of political change was declared at a time when neither the National Party nor African National Congress was looking for peaceful solutions or dialogue.

The declaration was heralded by the English-speaking press as a breakthrough in race relations in South Africa. The declaration was endorsed by several chief ministers of the black homelands, including Cedric Phatudi (Lebowa),

Lucas Mangope (Bophuthatswana) and Hudson Ntsanwisi (Gazankulu). The declaration also received praise from liberal figures such as Alan Paton.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Para-military accusations

Buthelezi was said to have been working with General Magnus Malan in training the youth of Ulundi and other parts of erstwhile KwaZulu in setting up a para-military unit ostensibly because he feared that a lot of property and life were lost during the cataclysmic conflicts of 1984 to 1994.

He was even implicated in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report as a person who was responsible for the gross violations of Human Rights but before the report was published he took them to court and before the court’s ruling Buthelezi and the Truth Commission agreed to settle out of court.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Meeting with Mandela

Buthelezi at first refused to stand at the 1994 general election, but chose to enter at the very last minute; after a meeting held on 8 April, where Mandela and De Klerk tried to sway the Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu from his dependence on Buthelezi by offering him a guarantee of special status of the Zulu monarchy after the election.

The offer was not immediately successful, but Buthelezi seemed sympathetic to the idea. The foreign mediation team led by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former UK Foreign Secretary Peter Carrington were pivotal in reaching a compromise and convinced the IFP leader to give up his boycott of the election.

Buthelezi, therefore, signed an agreement with De Klerk and Mandela that guaranteed the ceremonial status of the Zulu king and was promised that foreign mediators would examine Inkatha’s claims to more autonomy in the Zulu area.

It was probably too late though because Buthelezi was losing support fast, and as a consequence, his party only 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 retained following the 1999 election.

He was appointed as acting president a number of times during this period. Though his appointment in the Government of National Unity was a kind of catharsis,

the Zulu King openly lambasted Buthelezi and told many members of the ruling party that he was like Mandela because, for 24 years of KwaZulu government, he could not operate freely.

Buthelezi countered that by saying that His Majesty should not interfere in political matters, rather the Zulu monarchy should be modeled along the same lines as the British one. Because of the IFP’s late entry to the election, stickers printed with their candidates’ names were added to the ballot papers.

The majority of ANC again invited the IFP to join it in government. After the 2004 election, with Buthelezi declining the offer of the Deputy Presidency, the IFP left the coalition government and sat in the opposition benches.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Quotes

• South Africa is blessed to have women and men like yourselves who have little to give but give what you have with open hands and open hearts.
• I have always believed in dialogue and in nonviolence, and if you look at my background you will see that it has always been my policy to talk to everyone.
• For our white members, voting is something they have done for hundreds of years. But for us, it is not such a traumatic thing, because we have never participated in an election.

• Clearly, you need a new team to go out to bat on your behalf; to fight for your rights, and to report back to you personally and to the leadership of the IFP.
• I rejected the armed struggle because, as a Christian, I am committed to a nonviolent and peaceful struggle. But people take their own initiatives because it is a Lebanon type of situation here.
• All of our forebears contributed to what South Africa has become. That does not, however, mean that I must apologize to anyone for being born a Zulu, or for having that culture.

• My people have been sucked into the violence because some feel they have to retaliate, and some feel they have to protect themselves.
• And the basis on which we agreed to operate with them involved a manifesto, where it states that we proceed from different ideologies and policies. One thing that we insisted on was that they should take an oath to reject racism and discrimination.
• The candidates before you know that the IFP has set up a system of deployed IFP national and provincial leaders who are not only monitoring the performance of candidates during these elections but will also do so after these elections.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mangosuthu Buthelezi

Who is Mangosuthu Buthelezi?

Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African politician as well as a Zulu tribal leader who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in the year 1975 and was Chief Minister of the KwaZulu bantustan until the year 1994.

How old is Mangosuthu Buthelezi?

Buthelezi is a South African national born on 27 August 1928, in Mahlabathini, South Africa.

How tall is Mangosuthu Buthelezi?

Buthelezi stands at an average height, he has not shared his height with the public. His height will be listed once we have it from a credible source.

Is Mangosuthu Buthelezi married?

Yes, he was married to Irene Audrey Thandekile Mzila. The couple married on 2 July 1952. His wife Irene Audrey was born in 1929 and died on 25 March 2019 and buried on 29 March 2019. They had three sons and five daughters Together.

How much is Mangosuthu Buthelezi worth?

Buthelezi has an approximate net worth of 5 million South African Rand. This amount has been accrued from his leading roles in the political industry.

Where does Mangosuthu Buthelezi live?

He is a resident of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, USA, we shall upload pictures of his house as soon as we have them.

Is Mangosuthu Buthelezi dead or alive?

Buthelezi is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.

Where is Mangosuthu Buthelezi Now?

Politician: Buthelezi is still an active participant in the creative political industry.

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