MEDIA STATEMENT
BY THE
INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
Happy Birthday Shenge from the Inner City Constituency
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The Inner City Constituency of Johannesburg Region would like to take this opportunity to Wish Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the IFP President a happy 82nd birthday, may you mellow with age like a good wine. Your resolve for the emancipation of the poor remains an epitome of success for many generations who have the courage to work for their country to reach our Utopia. Since the days of apartheid when it was inconceivable for some to chart the course for poor to be self reliant, not to be dependant on the state, you created the first ' Black Bank ", the Ithala bank (which has today become a cash cow for politicians to give loans to their spouses and well connected party hacks), created the agricultural infrastructure with whatever meagre resources the KwaZulu government had for communities to feed themselves, you defied dependency revolution of communities on the state and urged people to feed themselves, you taught us to believe in ourselves and to share the spirit of Ubuntu. As leaders in the Inner City of Joburg Region we remain committed to support you in whatever effort to resolve the current challenges in our party, and affirm that we will work very hard to make sure that your ' Legacy' remains a shining light for those who are overshadowed by the current political dynamics, and we will teach the up coming generations about the greatest gift of hard work you bestowed on us. You have never wavered in your resolve to fight for justice, and it is in that spirit that we salute you and hope that God spares you for good, since you remain a force like an endearing magazine which continues its course. Though politics may have changed focus, politicians are bending rules, and politics of the bellies have descended on our land, but in all that that you stood for since the days of the struggle for liberation, you told us that this country's course for democratic process will be charted in the table, you stood against the burning of public amenities, mobilising youth to fight apartheid, in all this vindicates your stand. But rest assured Shenge that history is contested terrain, politicians appropriate it for their gain, but those of us who love you until the last bit our hearts will forever love and respect you. Not even a sudden gust of wind will deflect our attention, not even those who hate you with a devastating malice will succeed even within our party. You will forever remain our bright morning political star . Once more happy birthday Shenge, and remember birthdays remind us that we are loved and cherished by our loved ones. Hip ! Hip ! Hoooooray Written on behalf of the Inner City Constituency and all branches under it
By Muntonezwi Khanyile |