/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal has learned with disbelief the sad departure of the IFP Founder and President Emeritus Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Buthelezi family, the entire Buthelezi Clan and to the Inkatha Freedom Party.

The ANC as a caring organization, shares your pain and anguish during this difficult period.

While we appreciated the advancement in his age and the condition of his health, we were still hopeful that he was going to recover and continue to fulfil his important roles in society.

●He was a distinguished statesman.

●And more importantly – he was a committed Zulu Traditional Prime Minister until his last days.

His untimely death is a depletion of matured leadership that shaped KwaZulu-Natal and the country as a whole.

We are calling upon leaders of all faiths to join hands and pray for his family.

Shenge’s resilience throughout his stay in hospital demonstrated his perseverance in the face of adversity - a remarkable trait of his extraordinary life.

As the ANC we acknowledge the fact that Shenge was deeply loved by ordinary members of society – the young and old. It is for this reason we would understand why millions of people will appear unwilling to let him go.

ANC President Nelson Mandela once said: “A man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.”

Indeed Shenge’s flame is shining in KwaZulu-Natal and other parts of the country.

It is this shining flame that that will inspire multitudes of people to stand together in salute of a man who strode with grace among the great statesmen.

On Shenge’s Birthday last year we issued a statement in which we stated:

“We are all born to do good to ourselves and to others. We too can strive to be the best that we can be in our lifetimes just as uMntwana WakwaPhindangene and other struggle heroes have done. We too can double our efforts to build KwaZulu-Natal to be a better province than yesterday.”

On behalf of the ANC structures in KwaZulu-Natal, we respectfully bow our heads in honour of Sokwalisa.

We have mandated the Premier Cde Nomusa Dube-Ncube and her cabinet to request the President His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa to accord Prince Buthelezi Category 1 Funeral.

We have also mandated the ANC led government in this province to be closer to the family and the leadership of the IFP.

The family and his party must be assisted where possible during the next few days of mourning until Shenge is laid to rest.

For our part as the ANC, officials in the province, led by the chair Cde Siboniso Duma will liaise with the family to plan visit to convey messages of condolences during this difficult period.

Also, we are already engaging with Luthuli House to ensure that Buthelezi is given the greatest honour befitting such a towering giant from the heartbeat of the Zulu Nation.

Issued by the African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal