Zulu kings

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi was born on 27 August into the Zulu royal family. His mother was the daughter of King Dinizulu, and granddaughter of King Cetshwayo. As the first-born son he was first in line to the Buthelezi chieftainship. From to he was a pupil at the Impumalanga Primary School. He went on to study at Adams College in Amanzimtoti where he matriculated.

It was at this University that his short-lived involvement in liberation politics developed. In he took part in the student protests against the visit of Governor General G Brand Van Zyl, and as a result was expelled from the University. His academic progress was however not seriously hampered because the University of Natal allowed him to attend lectures and sit for the Fort Hare examinations.

In he found clerical work in the Department of Bantu Administration. The following year he married Irene Mzila, a nurse, and they had three sons and four daughters.

Inkatha meaning

In he returned home to become Chief of the Buthelezi clan. Though his subjects did not refute this status, the government only recognised him as Chief in Until then he was seen as Acting Chief. In , he became Chief Executive Officer of the Kwazulu Territorial Authority, which the government intended to serve as a transitional authority towards full homeland independence.

However, Chief Mangosutho Buthelezi refused to accept this lowered status of Kwazulu. Internal strife subsequently led to the collapse of the alliance. In he opposed Governments plan to cede the Ingwavuma region in northern KwaZulu to the Swaziland government.