By Soyiso Maliti.
One of IFP founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s daughters, Sibuyiselwe Angela Buthelezi (55), has died on Monday morning, the family said.
“In the early hours of this morning, the Buthelezi family received the devastating news of the untimely passing of her royal highness Princess Sibuyiselwe Angela Buthelezi,” the family said in a statement issued by Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi.
“It is with deep pain that we share this loss with the nation. Princess Angela, the youngest child of the late uMntwana waKwaPhindangene, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and the late uNdlunkulu Princess Irene, departed this world quite unexpectedly, having been admitted to hospital in Cape Town a week ago.”
Her passing comes just more than a year after her father’s death.
He was a Zulu prince and politician who served as the traditional prime minister to the royal family from 1954 until September 2023, when he died.
Zuzifa said Sibuyiselwe fell ill after attending a sitting of Parliament, where she was an MP.
Sibuyiselwe, Zuzifa and Phumzile Nokuphiwa Buthelezi were the last remaining children of Buthelezi.
Zuzifa said: The loss of Princess Angela, just a year after the passing of our father, is a terrible shock.
He added: “While her health was not perfect for several years, we did not expect this sudden news.”
She is survived by her only child, Ntando Nkeiruka.
Having served as MP in two consecutive administrations, she sat on the tourism, cooperative governance and traditional affairs, human settlements, and the water and sanitation portfolio committees.
Parliament has sent its condolences to the Buthelezi family.
In a statement issued by spokesperson Moloto Mothapo, Parliament said: “In these roles, princess Buthelezi distinguished herself through rigorous oversight and a steadfast commitment to accountability, which greatly enhanced the effectiveness of parliamentary processes.”
The statement added: “Her voice in Parliament was a powerful force for positive change, consistently championing the needs of those often overlooked in society on behalf of her constituency in KwaZulu Natal. The loss of princess Buthelezi is especially devastating as it comes shortly after the passing of her father, prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, one of the longest-serving parliamentarians, in September 2023.”
Mothapo quoted the presiding officers as saying: “We will always remember Princess Buthelezi’s legacy of service, her dedication to her people, and her commitment to the democratic processes of our nation.”