The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) extends its heartfelt condolences to His Majesty the King Misizulu kaZwelithini, the Royal Family and the Buthelezi Clan on the passing of Inkosi Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi. The passing of this iconic statesman, wise counsellor and devoted public servant has left a great void in our body politic.
A patriot to his core, Prince Buthelezi combined a lifetime of loyal and unstinting service to the people of KwaZulu-Natal province with service to the people of South Africa. He was deeply proud of his own heritage and among its foremost champions, but also valued and respected the heritages of others. The SAJBD is deeply appreciative of his friendship and support for the Jewish community and the many occasions that he graced important Jewish communal events with his presence.
SAJBD Vice-President Mary Kluk, a lifetime resident of Durban, had many opportunities of meeting Prince Buthelezi as well as working with him in collaborative projects for the upliftment of the people of KZN.
“One of the extraordinary legacies of Prince Buthelezi was his deep commitment to education and his role in establishing many schools, trade colleges and tertiary institutions. His ground-breaking acknowledgement of the impact of HIV on his family despite the horrific stigma associated with it at the time also resulted in an important shift in public opinion and treatment” she said.
SAJBD National Chairperson Prof Karen Milner said that despite his multiple duties as a senior political leader, Prince Buthelezi had always found time to engage with the Jewish leadership, at both the regional and national level.
'He always had close ties with the Jewish community, and our community in turn was proud to regard him as a friend and partner in building our nation' she said".
