By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
State owned power utility Eskom has granted the Ulundi Local Municipality a brief reprieve from this week’s bout of escalated load shedding to accommodate the funeral service of the late Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) founder and Zulu traditional prime minister Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi.
“I can confirm that it is for the event from today (Friday) at least until the burial is completed,” says Eskom’s Daphne Mokwena.
Mokwena says the special arrangement is to allow the funeral of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to proceed as smoothly as possible.
Buthelezi’s special official (category 1) funeral will be held at the Mangosuthu Buthelezi Regional Sports Complex in his hometown of Ulundi.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the eulogy of the IFP founder and traditional prime minister to the Zulu royal family who passed away on Saturday 9 September at the age of 95.
Meanwhile, the bank that Buthelezi was instrumental in establishing is going to honour him and his role in the institution.
Ithala Bank’s CEO, Dr Thulani Vilakazi says they’ve approached his family for their blessing to rename the bank’s Ulundi branch after the prince.
“They said they are welcoming it to an extent. So, we need to go through certain processes and these are some of the things that we are doing to make sure that heroes and heroines of our nation are actually memorialised in either the names or institutions.”
Buthelezi is survived by his daughter, Princess Phumzile Buthelezi, and his son, Zuzifa Buthelezi.
In March 2021, Eskom spent R8.5 million to suspend load shedding so mourners could follow the memorial service of the late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace.