DEAR Editor,-
On behalf of my children and family, I wish to thank the thousands of South Africans who came to Ulundi to pay tribute to my late wife Princess Irene Audrey Thandekile Buthelezi.
In particular, I would like to thank His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini, the Zulu royal family, President Cyril Ramaphosa, government ministers, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and bishops, leaders of other faith denominations, leaders of political parties and supporters, Zanele and Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe, Jacob and Tobeka Madiba-Zuma, Patrice Motsepe, Nicky and Strilli Oppenheimer, the delegations from the King of the Ngoni people of Zambia and King Mswati III, IEC chairman Glen Mashinini, Dr Brigalia Bam, members of parliament and provincial legislature, all mayors and all those who assembled in such large numbers to lay my beloved wife to rest.
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I also wish to thank members of IFP leadership for organising the funeral, in particular Mfanje Mbango, Narend Singh, members of the IFP’s National Executive Committee (NEC), and Prince Qedi Zulu.
Their love and support soothed the wound during this time of loss.
No words suffice in describing our gratitude to those who helped the family bury my beloved wife.
I wish to extend gratitude to all those who made contributions, in particular Reverend Erlo Stegen.
There are still many people who are coming to KwaPhindangene to pay their respects and we understand that they do so out of grief and the desire to see the eyes of the bereaved.
My children and I thank them, but we ask that we be allowed at this point to mourn in private as a family.
There are a number of issues that we would like to take care of as immediate family, according to our customs and traditions.
We therefore appeal for privacy at this point as further visits are adding to our distress during this difficult time.
We thank South Africans for their love and support.
PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI MP
IFP Media
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