Mangosuthu Buthelezi's Quotes

We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people - history has made us all South Africans.

Others may make you promises, once again, and then election after election not deliver. We will not do this.

I remain your servant and I will do as you ask of me.

I am not the kind of leader who pontificates about what should be done - I don't operate on scenarios, and I am not a prophet.

So long as the Zulu people are here, clearly I will still have a role to play in this country.

Clearly you need a new team to go out to bat on your behalf; to fight for your rights and to report back to you personally and to the leadership of the IFP.

I have been in America only once since Mr. Clinton became your president - as a speaker at the United Nations.

The IFP is here to put into practice what we preach.

All of our forebears contributed to what South Africa has become. That does not, however, mean that I must apologize to anyone for being born a Zulu, or for having that culture.

And the basis on which we agreed to operate with them involved a manifesto, where it states that we proceed from different ideologies and policies. One thing that we insisted on was that they should take an oath to reject racism and discrimination.

I rejected the armed struggle because, as a Christian, I am committed to a nonviolent and peaceful struggle. But people take their own initiatives, because it is a Lebanon type of situation here.

AIDS is the biggest challenge, the major disaster facing this country and we would have wished for something more specific and far-reaching.

I was proud to call Dr Rupert a friend. He was always a wonderful source of support and kindness.

My party is committed to a federation.

My people have been sucked into the violence because some feel they have to retaliate, and some feel they have to protect themselves.

South Africa is blessed to have women and men like yourselves who have little to give but give what you have with open hands and open hearts.

We are here because we are determined to offer the people of the Western Cape choices which are long overdue.

Well, surely, I am not in charge of South Africa.

For our white members, voting is something they have done for hundreds of years. But for us, it is not such a traumatic thing, because we have never participated in an election.

I have always believed in dialogue and in nonviolence, and if you look at my background you will see that it has always been my policy to talk to everyone.