Ndlozi told me it was going to be rough in parliament – Buthelezi

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said he was warned about the violent scenes that have played out in parliament since the Economic Freedom Fighters  (EFF) arrived in the house.

Speaking to Power FM on Monday evening, Buthelezi said: “Mbuyiseni Ndlozi told me that it was going to be rough in parliament. He warned me.”

EFF MPs have on many occasions been dragged out of the house by parliamentary protection services as they refused to be addressed by President Jacob Zuma.

Buthelezi said the decorum of parliament had been destroyed by the EFF.

“Maybe this is the style of the comrades,” said Buthelezi.

EFF leader Julius Malema responded to Buthelezi via a tweet saying :”And when we respond (to) him. he will be complaining like cry babe.”

On the radio show Buthelezi also talked about being in government under the leadership of then president Nelson Mandela.

He served as the minister of home affairs between 1994 and 2004.

“Mandela wanted me to be in his government and he wanted me to be his deputy but I could not agree to giving the ANC my votes from the IFP in order to be deputy president,” he said.

He revealed that he acted as the president of the country more than 20 times but some people were ‘not happy’ with the arrangement.

Buthelezi founded the IFP in 1975 and has been its leader ever since.

Asked when he would retire from politics, Buthelezi said he has offered to do so in the past.

“I have offered to resign many times. It can happen any time, I can retire anytime,” he said.

Things got heated as Power FM callers challenged him.

Buthelezi told one caller ‘nawe uyabheda’ (you are talking nonsese).