Johannesburg - The issue of octogenarian IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi remaining at the helm of his party was raised in Parliament on Thursday, with Buthelezi for a second time indicating his grave offence at comments made by Deputy Public Works Minister Jeremy Cronin during the State of the Nation debate.
He also alleged Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale was behind “ructions” in the IFP.
Buthelezi, 84, told the house that at three IFP conferences he had indicated his desire to retire, only to be asked to stay on.
“The time of my retirement is an IFP matter. It is not up to Deputy Minister Cronin or the South African Communist Party, nor even a decision for the ANC president to make,” Buthelezi said. He pointed out that ANC MP Andrew Mlangeni was the same age.
Public Service and Administration minister Lindiwe Sisulu tried to smooth things over, assuring Buthelezi that Cronin’s comments had been nothing more than “parliamentary banter”, hadn’t meant to be offensive or personal and that there was no intention to hurt Buthelezi’s feelings.
The IFP leader accepted her explanation.
Political Bureau