It was a case of friends and foes as former presidents converged in one venue to bid farewell to the late IFP founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who was being accompanied to his final resting place on Saturday.
Buthelezi died last Saturday at the age of 95.
Former president Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, Kgalema Motlanthe and current head of state Cyril Ramaphosa sat side-by-side, barely talking to each other, as the funeral proceedings were underway.
It was amabutho (zulu regiments) who almost stole the show when during the proceedings, administered by Anglican Bishop of Cape town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, descended in the packed Prince Mangosuthu regional stadium.
The sudden entrance of amabutho, who were heavily armed with traditional weapons, grabbed attention as they sang songs before settling down in the middle of the pitch
IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa lauded President Cyril Ramaphosa for honouring Buthelezi, who was the last standing leader of the apartheid homeland states, saying he did not bow to pressure but accorded him with the status he deserved.
“Our duty despite our heartfelt pain is to bid farewell in a manner befitting to this hero of the African soil. He never asked what’s in it for me, but he asked what is it that I can offer. We owe it to him to ensure that the IFP remains a strong force in South Africa’s political landscape,” said Hlabisa.
Despite facing internal revolt from the dominant faction within the party, Hlabisa appeared calm and collected as IFP supporters gave him a standing ovation.
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