• Campaigns
    • MzansiFirst
    • #STOPGBV
    • COVID-19
    • NO to Captive Lion Breeding
  • Newsroom
  • Events
  • Structures
    • National Leadership
    • Women’s Brigade
    • Youth Brigade
  • Documents
IFP
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Why IFP?
    • Vision and Values
    • Our History
    • Message from our Leaders
    • Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi
  • Our Manifesto
    • Our Plan
    • Our Manifesto
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Why IFP?
    • Vision and Values
    • Our History
    • Message from our Leaders
    • Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi
  • Our Manifesto
    • Our Plan
    • Our Manifesto
  • Contact us
More links
  • Campaigns
    • MzansiFirst
    • #STOPGBV
    • COVID-19
    • NO to Captive Lion Breeding
  • Newsroom
  • Events
  • Structures
    • National Leadership
    • Women’s Brigade
    • Youth Brigade
  • Documents
13 December, 2015

Statement on the Passing of the Hon. Dr LPHM Mtshali

By Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP
President Of The Inkatha Freedom Party

The IFP family is in mourning today over the passing of a prominent leader and stalwart, the Hon. Dr LPHM Mtshali. Our condolences are with his wife, children and grandchildren, who have suffered an immeasurable loss. We honour them for lending Dr Mtshali to the IFP and for supporting him as he made his outstanding contribution to the health and strength of South Africa.

Dr Mtshali served as Premier of KwaZulu Natal, and as a national Minister in the Cabinet of President Mbeki. He entered democracy well equipped to administer governance with integrity and excellence, for he had experience as Minister of Education in the KwaZulu Government, after working as an Inspector of schools for years before that.

He will be remembered as a dedicated party leader, a skilled administrator and an exceptional South African. His greatest legacy, however, is likely to be his leadership in making anti-retroviral medicines available to all clinics across KwaZulu Natal, and forcing the national government to follow suit.

Under his leadership, the IFP joined the Treatment Action Campaign in taking the national Government to the Constitutional Court. By providing evidence that a government could, fairly easily and cost effectively, prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/Aids through the provision of anti-retrovirals, Premier Mtshali enabled the Constitutional Court to rule in favour of national Government following the IFP’s example.

In this battle, as in all others, Dr Mtshali showed courage and tenacity. Even when taken to court by the ANC’s MEC for Health, Dr Mkhize, who argued that matters of health were the prerogative of the MEC and not the Premier, Dr Mtshali did not back down. The Court ruled that the Premier carried final responsibility for all provincial matters, and Dr Mtshali was able to follow his conscience. In so doing, thousands of lives were saved.

His commitment to serving his nation was unwavering. Indeed, even as his health began to fail he would not entertain the idea of retiring. I visited him in hospital last Sunday and we spoke as we always do about the future and our work. He still believed he had much to give, and would no doubt have continued to work with utmost dedication had his body allowed.

It is left the those who served alongside him to say thank you. May he rest in peace after many years of toiling for the benefit of us all. He will be missed, and always remembered.

Trending Headlines

Speeches 1 June, 2023

Debate on the Report by Premier on Solving Youth Unemployment & Mass Employment Creation following the 2023 SOPA

Read more
Press Releases 1 June, 2023

Is KZN Ready for a Cholera Outbreak?

Read more
Press Releases 31 May, 2023

Budget Vote 1: The Presidency

Read more
Press Releases 30 May, 2023

IFP Demands Answers About Salary of Suspended ANC Councillor in Ixopo

Read more
Press Releases 29 May, 2023

Message from IFP National Women’s Brigade Chairperson – Child Protection Week

Read more
Statement on the Passing of the Hon. Dr LPHM Mtshali - Inkatha Freedom Party
Why IFP? Our values Our Leadership Our Manifesto Contact Us
Historical Documents Our History Youth Brigade Our Plan Women’s Brigade Newsroom Privacy policy

The IFP exists as a political party to serve the people of South Africa, and to do so in the spirit of ubuntu/botho.
© 2023 Inkatha Freedom Party. All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by Creation Labs