He was a fighter
The death of Induna Foni Wilson “Hlabalingene” Mthethwa at the age of 67 has been described as a loss by the community of Nguni Hostel in Vosloorus.
Mthethwa died in hospital in Mahlabathini in KZN, on February 8, and his life was commemorated recently by scores of hostel headmen and members of the extended hostel community around Kathorus during a memorial service at Nguni Hostel’s community hall recently.
Known as a fierce campaigner for the rights of hostel dwellers, the tall, fearless tribal civic leader and representative of the Zulu King for parts of rural Mahlabathini was also popularly known as Hlabalingene, or “he whose words pierce you with honesty”.
The death of the man, who equated the role of rural tribal iziNduna to that of urban city mayors, has left a noticeable gap in the life of dwellers at the Nguni Hostel in Vosloorus.
“We all come from different areas of KwaZulu and we are deployed by the Zulu King to represent his subjects in different urban hostels around the country. Our role should therefore not be seen as lesser than that of government-appointed mayors in urban towns and cities,” he once told Kathorus MAIL, arguing that hostel iziNduna are often undermined by some of their municipality counterparts because of their traditional status.
During the memorial service Mthethwa’s friends and colleagues described how he took ill at a time when, together with other local iziNduna under the local chairperson Induna Buthelezi, he spearheaded a campaign to negotiate the renovations and safety upgrades of the complex with officials of the Ekurhuleni Municipality.
IziNduna uNtshayi-Ntshayi and iNduna u-Sibiya, who worked closely with the late Mthethwa, confirmed their late colleague’s dedication and commitment to improving the lives of the hostel community.
“Mthethwa did not care which region of KZN a hostel dweller came from. He saw himself as a leader who represented all residents within the hostel complex. We hope to soon see the results of his hard work”, explained iNduna uSibiya.
He confirmed that the hostel leadership would soon be finalising talks with the Ekurhuleni Municipality regarding a number projects aimed at improving the lives the hostel community.
During the memorial service, tributes describing the selfless service and dedication of Mthethwa were shared by fellow headmen and the community.
Several top speakers, among them local hostel women’s leader, Mama u-Mantombi Buthelezi, a close friend of the deceased, spoke in praise of Mthethwa.
Among other traditional dignitaries and speakers at the memorial service were iNduna; u-Samuel Ntshayi-Ntshayi, iNduna u-Mkhombiseni Sibiya, iNduna u-Mbongeleni Dlakude, iNduna u-Gabela Mahlathini, iNduna u-Zakhalia Mhlanga, iNduna u-Qundani Mthethwa and chairperson of the adjacent Basotho Hostel, Induna uNene.
Mthethwa was buried in his rural village of Emahlabathini on February 24.
