The security detail of IFP founder and president emeritus Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been beefed up to ensure that only close family members visit him during his hospital stay.
First, it is a security risk, Buthelezi’s spokesperson, Liezl van der Merwe, told Sunday World yesterday.
“But more importantly, in support of his doctors’ instructions – it has been the call of the family that well-wishers refrain from visiting the hospital, so that Buthelezi might enjoy the rest necessary for him.”
Van der Merwe said the expectation was for those who love and care for the elder statesman, who is turning 95 on August 27, to respect the doctors’ directive.
It is widely believed Buthelezi was admitted to a Richards Bay hospital for back pain problems. But his condition deteriorated dramatically when he contracted pneumonia. He was then transferred to an undisclosed hospital in Durban and placed in the intensive care unit.
Buthelezi, who still serves as IFP leader in the national assembly, has been out of public life for a month because of poor health.
Even AmaZulu king MisuZulu kaZwelithini, once close confidantes, was denied a hospital visit by the Buthelezi family. This was allegedly because he contributed to Buthelezi’s deteriorating health.
But the king’s spokesperson, Prince Africa Zulu, denied the allegations that the king was snubbed.
According to Zulu, “it is a common cultural practice that the king does not visit hospitals or places where corpses are kept, including funerals”.
A senior IFP leader told Sunday World the real reason Buthelezi’s security was bolstered was indeed to manage the people who had access to him.
On Tuesday, at the IFP headquarters in Durban, Velenkosini Hlabisa told journalists Buthelezi was making a “steady” recovery.
Hlabisa, who was anointed by Buthelezi to succeed him, faces internal revolt from senior party members. Sunday World understands there are fears that should Buthelezi pass away, the brewing hostilities among senior party members could play out publicly.
The party’s top brass also conceded that reclaiming KwaZulu-Natal in next year’s general elections rested heavily on Buthelezi’s presence.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
