Mangosuthu Buthelezi

Mangosuthu Buthelezi (27 August 1928 – 9 September 2023) was a South African politician and Zulu tribal leader. He founded the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in 1975 and was Chief Minister of the KwaZulu bantustan until 1994. He was Minister of Home Affairs of South Africa from 1994 to 2004. His praise name was Shenge.

The Honourable Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Buthelezi in 1983
Minister of Home Affairs
In office 10 May 1994 – 13 July 2004
President	Nelson Mandela Thabo Mbeki
Preceded by	Danie Schutte
Succeeded by	Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office 29 April 1994 – 9 September 2023
Constituency	KwaZulu Natal
President of the Inkatha Freedom Party
In office 21 March 1975 – 25 August 2019
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Velenkosini Hlabisa
Bantustan offices 1970‍–‍1977 Chief Minister of KwaZulu In office 1 February 1977 – 26 April 1994 Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Position abolished Chief Executive Councillor of KwaZulu In office April 1972 – 31 January 1977 Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Position abolished Chief Executive Officer of the Zululand Territorial Authority In office 9 June 1970 – 1 April 1972 Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Position abolished
Tribal offices 1953‍–‍2023 Traditional Prime Minister of the Zulu royal family In office 1954–2023 Monarch Cyprian Bhekuzulu Goodwill Zwelithini Misuzulu Zulu Preceded by Inkosi Mathole Buthelezi Inkosi of the Buthelezi Clan in Mahlabathini In office 1953–2023 Preceded by Inkosi Mathole Buthelezi
Personal details
Born	Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi (1928-08-27)27 August 1928 Mahlabathini, Natal, South Africa
Died	9 September 2023(2023-09-09) (aged 95) Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Political party	IFP
Other political affiliations	African National Congress
Spouse(s)	Irene Audrey Thandekile Mzila ​ ​ (m. 1952; died 2019)​
Children	8, including Sibuyiselwe Angela
Residence	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Occupation	Activist politician traditional leader
Known for	Founder of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP, 1975)
House	Zulu
Religion	Anglican

During the CODESA negotiations of the early 1990s, he represented the IFP. Following the introduction of the universal franchise in the 1994 general election, Buthelezi led the IFP to join the government of national unity, led by Nelson Mandela. Buthelezi served as Minister of Home Affairs until 2004. He continued to serve as both leader of the IFP and an MP, retaining his seat in the 2014 general election.

In 1964 he played King Cetshwayo kaMpande (his own maternal great-grandfather) in the movie Zulu.

Buthelezi died on 9 September at his home in Ulundi, South Africa at the age of 95.

Other websites

Media related to Mangosuthu Buthelezi at Wikimedia Commons

• A biography of Buthelezi
• News item that discusses Buthelezi's firing as Minister of Home Affairs
• Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi Archived 2004-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
• Genealogy of Buthelezi Tribe
• DR. MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI, MP – PRESIDENT OF THE INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
• Inkosi Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
• Speech by Mangosuthu Buthelezi to The Heritage Foundation, 19 June 1991.