STATEMENT BY PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI MP
PRESIDENT OF THE INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
On behalf of my children and my family, I wish to thank the thousands of South Africans who came to Ulundi to pay tribute to my late wife, Princess Irene Audrey Thandekile Buthelezi.
In particular, I would like to thank His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini, the Zulu royal family, the President of the Republic of South Africa Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, Government ministers, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and Bishops, leaders of other faith denominations, leaders of political parties and their supporters, Mrs Zanele Mbeki who was present at the funeral and her husband former President Thabo Mbeki, former President Kgalema Motlanthe, former President Jacob Zuma and his wife Mrs Tobeka Madiba-Zuma who was present at the funeral, Mr Patrice Motsepe, Mr Nicky and Mrs Strilli Oppenheimer, the delegation from the King of the Ngoni people of Zambia and the delegation on behalf of King Mswati III, the Chairperson of the IEC Mr Glen Mashinini and the former Chairperson Dr Brigalia Bam, Members of Parliament and Members of the Provincial Legislature, all our mayors and all those who assembled in such large numbers to lay my beloved wife to rest.
I also wish to thank members of IFP leadership that organized the funeral, in particular – Mr Mfanje Mbango, Mr Narend Singh and members of the IFP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) – as well as Prince Qedi Zulu.
Their love and support soothed our wound in this time of loss.
No words will suffice in describing our gratitude to those who helped our family to bury my beloved wife.
I wish to extend my gratitude to all those who made contributions, in particular Reverend Erlo Stegen.
There are still many people who are coming to KwaPhindangene to pay their respects, and we understand that they do so out of grief and the desire to see the eyes of the bereaved.
My children and I thank them, but we ask that we be allowed at this point to mourn as a family in private.
There are a number of issues that we would like to take care of as the immediate family of the late Princess Irene Audrey Thandekile Buthelezi, according to our customs and traditions.
We therefore appeal for privacy at this point as further visits are now adding to our distress, during this difficult time.
We thank South Africans for their love and support.
Contact:
Mr Mfanje Mbango
IFP’s General Secretary of Administration
082 311 9278
Or
Ms Liezl van der Merwe MP
Press Officer to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP
082 729 2510