Durban - Former KwaZulu-Natal premier Lionel Mtshali, 80, died at Westville Hospital on Sunday. He had suffered from a heart ailment.
IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi conveyed the party’s condolences to his wife, Daphne, children and grandchildren.
“We honour them for lending Lionel Mtshali to the IFP and for supporting him as he made his outstanding contribution to the health and strength of South Africa.”
Mtshali served as premier of the province and as a national minister in former president Thabo Mbeki’s cabinet. He entered democracy well equipped to administer governance with integrity and excellence, having had experience as minister of education in KwaZulu-Natal, after working as an inspector of schools, said Buthelezi.
“He will be remembered as a dedicated party leader, a skilled administrator and an exceptional South African. His greatest legacy, however, is likely to be his leadership in making antiretroviral medicines available to all clinics across KwaZulu-Natal, and forcing the national government to follow suit.
“Under his leadership, the IFP joined the Treatment Action Campaign in taking the national government to the Constitutional Court. By providing evidence that a government could, fairly easily and cost effectively, prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/Aids through the provision of antiretrovirals, Mtshali enabled the Constitutional Court to rule in favour of government following the IFP’s example.”
He added that Mtshali had shown courage and tenacity. Even when taken to court by the ANC’s MEC for health at the time, Dr Zweli Mkhize, who argued that matters of health were the prerogative of the MEC and not the premier, Mtshali did not back down.
The court ruled that the premier carried final responsibility for all provincial matters and Mtshali was able to follow his conscience. In so doing, thousands of lives were saved.
“His commitment to serving his nation was unwavering. Even as his health began to fail he would not entertain the idea of retiring.
“I visited him in hospital last Sunday and we spoke as we always did about the future and our work.”
DA leader in the legislature Sizwe Mchunu said Mtshali would be missed.
ANC provincial chairman Sihle Zikalala expressed the party’s condolences to the IFP and Mtshali’s family.
Premier Senzo Mchunu said his death was saddening.
The Mercury
* Use IOL’s Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.