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"IFP Devastated by Bhengu’s Death"

The IFP says that it has been devastated by the loss of one of its stalwarts, Mr Geoffrey Bongumusa Bhengu who passed away in the early hours of last Sunday at his house in eShowe. Mr Bhengu, who was popularly known as “GB,” was a teacher by profession. He was one of the founder members of Inkatha YeNkululeko YeSizwe - the forerunner to the Inkatha Freedom Party. He served as a Member of Inkatha Central Committee, a Member of the then KwaZulu Legislative Assembly and a Deputy Minister of Agriculture in the KwaZulu Government. When the democratic dispensation was ushered in in 1994, he served as a Senator for the IFP, a Member of Parliament and later a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Parliament until his retirement in
2008.

In a statement he issued this morning, Mr Blessed Gwala a Member of the IFP
National Executive Committee said:

“The IFP was truly devastated by the passing away of one of our stalwarts the Hon. Mr Geoffrey Bongumusa Bhengu. Mr Bhengu’s compassion and determination to contribute to the eradication of oppression of our people led him to leave the teaching profession and to devote his services fully to the struggle of his people. He then became one of the founder-members of Inkatha YeNkululeko YeSizwe in 1975 and went on to serve in the Inkatha Central Committee. He also became a Member of the then KwaZulu Legislative Assembly and was later appointed as a Deputy Minister of Agriculture in the KwaZulu Government. When the democratic dispensation was ushered in in 1994, he served as a Senator for the IFP in Cape Town, which later became the National Council of Provinces; a Member of Parliament and later a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Parliament until his retirement in 2008.”

“Because of his skills and integrity, the IFP President Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi asked Mr Bhengu, after his retirement from Parliament, to head its Political Oversight Committee, an organ charged with the responsibility to oversee all public representatives of the IFP, a responsibility which he discharged with focussed dedication and zeal until he met his death.”

“The IFP is proud to have had among its leaders a man of integrity and high standards who did not sell his soul to the highest bidder. Bhengu stood with the IFP through thick and thin. He was not driven by political greed which saw some desert the IFP for what they saw as greener political pastures. His departure truly leaves the IFP poor as we are robbed of his dedication and integrity. We will always hold him in very high esteem.”

“The IFP leadership had a meeting with the Bhengu family yesterday afternoon at his house in eShowe. The family informed the party that the funeral service will take place on Saturday, 26 May 2012 at eShowe. Further the family informed the party leaders of its wish to have Mr Bhengu’s funeral service held as a pure church service that will not feature any political items. The IFP leadership unconditionally deferred to the family’s wishes. Both the family and the IFP however agreed that a Memorial Service to pay tribute to Mr Bhengu for the role he played in the political field will be held after the funeral on a date yet to be determined.”

“We urge our people to understand and not to be surprised as the Saturday program will not feature anyone from the IFP.”