By Celani Sikhakhane
Prince Ntuthukoyezwe Buthelezi, the son of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, has taken over from him as a senior traditional leader of the clan.
But he has decided to pay more attention to the development of the Buthelezi clan in Mahlabathini than to politics.
Prince Ntuthukoyezwe ascended to the throne in December, succeeding his late political veteran father who died in September last year. The family process was hailed by many as a most peaceful process.
In an interview with Scrolla.Africa, Prince Ntuthukoyezwe said that he plans to engage with investors to come and create opportunities for his people.
“Politics is not going to be my focus. Although I have been appointed to serve in the National Council of the IFP, the biggest task for me is to serve the community of the Buthelezi clan.
“I want to be that traditional leader who works for the people, who does not wait for them to shower me with gifts. I’m the one who has to bring investment to the people that I serve,” said the prince.
“I want to carry on with my father’s legacy because he cared a lot for his clan.”
On Saturday Prince Ntuthukoyezwe met with an American delegation at the kwaPhindangene residence in Nkonjeni to discuss fundamental issues.
He told Scrolla.Africa that as the son of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi it is not easy to stay away from politics completely.
“I made a decision when I was a student at the University of Zululand that I would never make politics my career. Politics hurt me a lot because of my father’s political enemies,” he said.
“There was a time when I would be whisked out of the university residence at night after a tip-off that there was a plot to assassinate me in my sleep.”
He said his father would quickly send his bodyguards to fetch him and take him home.
“It was painful. That’s what made me decide that politics will never be my career,” he said.
Prince Ntuthukoyezwe studied at the University of Zululand along with ANC struggle stalwart and former mineral resources minister Penuell Maduna and Mzala Nxumalo of the SACP, who was a political enemy of his father.
Nxumalo authored a controversial book titled Gatsha Buthelezi, a Chief with a Double Agenda.
Buthelezi went to his grave fighting against the publication of the book.
Pictured above: The new leader of the Buthelezi clan, Prince Ntuthukoyezwe Buthelezi, will focus on attracting investors to develop the Buthelezi clan in Mahlabathini.
Image source: Supplied
