Buthelezi statue plan fires uproar as parties trade political blows

A PROPOSAL by KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, to erect a statue in honour of the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi alongside those of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo in Durban has triggered mixed reactions.

- SIPHO JACK

The MEC’s motivation for the monument, which he made known last week, was that Buthelezi - founder and former leader of the IFP - was an iconic figure who should also be celebrated.

That proposal was firmly rejected by the ANC in eThekwini.

The DA's eThekwini caucus spokesperson, Thabani Ndlovu, said the debate was yet another example of how both the ANC and IFP continue to prioritise political point-scoring over the urgent needs of residents.

Ndlovu stated that while parties argued over whether Mangosuthu Buthelezi should be recognised alongside figures such as Mandela and Tambo, the reality on the ground was that service delivery in eThekwini was collapsing.

"At a time when communities are facing ongoing water shortages, failing infrastructure, and deteriorating basic services, it is deeply concerning that the governing parties are focused on symbolic battles instead of real solutions.

"The DA believes that any available resources should be directed towards improving the lives of residents. The people of eThekwini are demanding reliable services, not statues," said Ndlovu.

Political analyst Professor Siphamandla Zondi noted that there was a faction within the ANC that had not moved on from the battles between Inkatha and the UDF in the 1980s and early 1990s.