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IFP stalwart is laid to rest

LAST RITES: IFP and ANC leaders, among them Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Sbu Ndebele, paid their last respects to Celeni Mthethwa, who contributed to bringing political stability to KwaZulu-Natal. Pic. Siyabonga Mosunkutu. 26/07/08. © Sowetan.
LAST RITES: IFP and ANC leaders, among them Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Sbu Ndebele, paid their last respects to Celeni Mthethwa, who contributed to bringing political stability to KwaZulu-Natal. Pic. Siyabonga Mosunkutu. 26/07/08. © Sowetan.

Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

Leaders of the IFP and ANC put their political differences aside to pay their last respects to IFP stalwart Celeni Mthethwa, who was described as a peace strategist in KwaZulu-Natal.

IFP and ANC leaders mingled with Umsinga residents at Mthethwa's funeral in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands to bid farewell to the IFP stalwart.

Proceedings were led by ANC and IFP presidents Jacob Zuma and Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Buthelezi pleaded for peace in honour of Mthethwa, 50, who died in a Dundee hospital last week after suffering a stroke.

Speakers described Mthethwa as a man of peace who played a pivotal role in ensuring peace and stability between the two parties in KwaZulu-Natal.

Zuma told mourners that Mthethwa was a great thinker who was able to come up with solutions during peace talks between the parties.

He said Mthethwa had earned great respect from the ANC and IFP. Mthethwa led IFP party to talks that resulted in the signing of a peace pact in 1999.

Buthelezi had to step in as IFP supporters tried to disrupt Zuma's speech. He urged them to respect Zuma as leader of the ANC and possibly the future president of the country.

Mthethwa is survived by his wife Jabulile and four children.

Meanwhile, the ANC and IFP are expected to start talks this week to resolve tensions caused by the renaming of streets by the eThekwini Muni- cipality.

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