![\"IOL](\"http:\/\/www.iol.co.za\/polopoly_fs\/iol-pic-ss-raj-dec31-2011-1.1206510!\/image\/3322869374.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/box_300\/3322869374.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
Ex-QDMS<\/p>\n
Amichand Rajbansi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
South Africa had lost a political heavyweight with the death of Minority Front Amichand Rajbansi, said Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi at his funeral in Chatsworth on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Africa has lost one of its political heavy weights with the passing away of the leader of the Minority Front,\u201d said Buthelezi.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe passing of Mr Amichand Rajbansi is painful to bear, for his leadership is still needed and his passion will be hard to match.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rajbansi was granted an official funeral after he died aged 69 on Thursday morning, after being admitted to hospital in Umhlanga, outside Durban, in October with bronchitis.<\/p>\n
Buthelezi said that he had known Rajbansi for four decades.<\/p>\n
He said that in 1978, certain parties had formed a black alliance to fight apartheid, including the IFP and the Reform Party, which Rajbansi belonged at the time.<\/p>\n
Later on the apartheid regime established the Tricameral parliament to represent Indians and coloureds but still excluded blacks.<\/p>\n
Buthelezi said he was opposed to the system but Rajbansi left the alliance to join the Tricameral parliament.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will always hold Mr Rajbansi in the highest esteem for the way he handled this parting of ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was always respectful towards me, recognising our shared passion for freedom and democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he was disappointed that in the post-apartheid era, Rajbansi had chosen to align himself with the ANC.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, once again, there was no animosity between Mr Rajbansi and me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buthelezi said that he respected Rajbansi’s passion to serve the Indian community.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Rajbansi \u201cdid not favour the Indian community unfairly\u201d during his time as KwaZulu-Natal Sport and Recreational Minister, said Buthelezi.<\/p>\n
He said he found it \u201cpainful, but not surprising\u201d when the ANC \u201cdropped\u201d Rajbansi from the cabinet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was also not surprising that Mr Rajbansi became embittered by this, which resulted in his forthright criticism of the ANC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buthelezi said the relationship between the two of them had endured over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough we walked different roads, we retained respect for one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele also spoke at the funeral, describing Rajbansi as a \u201ccourageous\u201d man.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany would agree with me when I say that this was a courageous man of exceptional talents,\u201d said Ndebele in a speech prepared for delivery at Rajbansi’s funeral.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis contribution to nation building and bringing unity particularly here in KwaZulu-Natal is well documented.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ndebele said that he had served with \u201cThe Bengal Tiger\u201d, as Rajbansi was known, in the cabinet of the KwaZulu-Natal government between 2004 and 2009.<\/p>\n
As premier of the province, Ndebele had invited Rajbansi to serve as Sports and Recreation MEC.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrue to his character of fostering co-operation at all times, he gladly accepted the request.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ndebele said that Rajbansi had been involved in politics both in the build-up to a democratic South Africa, as well as in the post-apartheid South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome may have been tempted to dismiss his role and that of his party as minor in the greater thick of things.<\/p>\n
However some of us who have been part of the political processes of this province would attest that he was central to all that we have achieved.\u201d – Sapa<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
View the original here:
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