The Splitter of South Africa: Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a prominent figure in South African politics, passed away at the age of 95. President Cyril Ramaphosa described Buthelezi as an "exceptional leader." During apartheid, Buthelezi served as the chief minister of the KwaZulu Bantustan, a semi-independent territory for the Zulu people. His administration was seen as a puppet regime controlled by the South African government, intolerant of political opposition, and dominated by the Inkatha party, which he founded. Despite differences, Buthelezi joined forces with the African National Congress (ANC) to fight against apartheid and campaigned for Nelson Mandela's release. However, he disagreed with the ANC's approach of armed action and international sanctions, believing they hurt black South Africans. During the transition to multi-party democracy, Buthelezi was concerned about losing his power. He advocated for a more federal system of government that respected the status of traditional Zulu leaders, but the ANC disagreed. Violent clashes between Inkatha and ANC supporters occurred, resulting in thousands of deaths. Eventually, Buthelezi became part of Mandela's government as the minister of home affairs. He led the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which struggled to expand its influence beyond the Zulu community. Buthelezi stepped down as IFP president in 2019 after serving for 45 years. He was known for his lengthy parliamentary speeches and had a complicated legacy during apartheid, seen either as a protector of his people or someone who maintained a comfortable position of power while true activists faced imprisonment and violence.