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    Zintle | Khobeni de Lange
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      Honouring Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi: A Celebration and a Caution.

      · God- Ancestors and African Spirituality
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      Today, on the birthday of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, South Africa pauses to celebrate not only the life of a towering statesman, but also the enduring legacy he leaves behind.

      Today marks a historic and deeply emotional moment in KwaZulu-Natal, as the provincial government, together with the Department of CoGTA led by the Honourable Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, President of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), unveils the final resting place of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi as a heritage site.

      This honor could not have come at a more fitting moment — a day when we remember the prince's extraordinary contributions to our nation, his unwavering commitment to justice, and his lifelong devotion to the Zulu nation and the people of South Africa.

      This is more than an unveiling. It is a profound acknowledgement of a man whose life was devoted to freedom, justice, and service to the people of South Africa. Prince Buthelezi stood tall during the most turbulent years of our history.

      As a freedom fighter, traditional leader, statesman, and custodian of culture, he dedicated his life not only to the liberation of our people but also to ensuring that our heritage, traditions, and identity were preserved amid the cruelty of apartheid.

      His final resting place becoming a heritage site ensures that generations to come will walk the grounds where he rests, reflect on his sacrifices, and learn about the values he so passionately embodied.

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      Heritage sites are sacred. They are classrooms without walls, where the stories of our heroes are etched into the land. They are a bridge between past, present, and future—reminding us of where we come from and guiding us toward where we must go. When we protect them, we protect our dignity, our pride, and our history.

      As someone deeply rooted in tradition and customs, I hold immense respect for heritage sites. Recently, during my visit to KwaZulu-Natal, I went to pay homage at the uShaka Visitor Centre in KwaDukuza, the final resting place of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, the great founder of the Zulu nation.

      My heart was broken. The site is in a state of neglect and decay, surrounded by illegal activities, noise, and even illegal foreign occupations right behind this sacred place. What should be a dignified site of reverence has been reduced to an environment that dishonours the memory of a king whose name echoes across the African continent.

      In addition to King Shaka’s resting place, I also visited the old Prixley kaSeme house—another heritage site of great importance. Sadly, it too stands in a state of dilapidation, its walls crumbling under the weight of our collective neglect. Dr. Prixley kaSeme, a visionary leader, deserves far better than to have his memory housed in ruins.

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      These places are not just physical structures; they are living archives of our struggle, our resilience, and our victories. If they are left to decay, we risk erasing the very lessons our children should inherit.

      This must never happen again. As we celebrate the honour given to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi today, I urge the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government to not only safeguard this new heritage site but also to urgently intervene at King Shaka’s resting place, the Prixley kaSeme house, and many other sites across our land.

      Heritage cannot be reduced to symbolic ceremonies and ribbon cuttings. True honour lies in consistent care, preservation, and protection of these sacred spaces.

      Let us celebrate today with pride, as Prince Buthelezi’s legacy is immortalised through this site.

      But let us also act with vigilance, so that his resting place—and those of our other great leaders—never fall into neglect. For when our heroes are forgotten in death, we dishonour the values they lived and died for.

      Protecting our heritage is protecting ourselves.

      This is a call to our government, our communities, and each of us as citizens to restore, refurbish, and fiercely guard these sites.

      For in their preservation lies our dignity, our pride, and the unbroken story of who we are as a people.

      Happy heavenly birthday Shenge- You are forever in our hearts.

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