24 Facts About James Mahlangu

Prince Senzangakhona James Mahlangu was a South African politician and Ndebele prince of the Ndzundza royal family.

James Mahlangu served as the last Chief Minister of the KwaNdebele bantustan between May 1990 and April 1994 and founded the bantustan's Intando Yesizwe party in 1990.

The son of Ndebele king Mabusabesala II and the brother of Mabusabesala's successor, Mayitjha II, Mahlangu rose to prominence as the de facto leader of the political opposition in KwaNdebele in the 1980s.

James Mahlangu was an outspoken opponent of the apartheid-era policy of separate development and of proposals to grant nominal independence to KwaNdebele.

James Mahlangu came to power in KwaNdebele at the outset of the democratic transition and subsequently joined the African National Congress in 1994.

James Mahlangu later represented the opposition United Democratic Movement in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature from 1999 until 2000, when he returned to the ANC and took up a position in the Mpumalanga provincial government.

James Mahlangu was granted formal status as Inkosi of the Ndzundza Mabusa Tribal Authority in Mpumalanga in late 2001 and held that position until his death in 2005.

James Mahlangu was born on 3 February 1953 in eMthambothini in Weltevrede in the former Transvaal.

James Mahlangu was born into the Ndzundza royal family as the second-eldest son of the reigning Ndebele king, Ingwenyama Mabusabesala II, and his wife Queen Johanna Selepi.

James Mahlangu matriculated in 1974 and the following year enrolled at the University of Zululand.

In 1976, his studies were interrupted by the Soweto uprising, and James Mahlangu himself joined the South African Students' Movement.

James Mahlangu resumed his degree in 1978 at the University of the North, where he completed a bachelor's in administration.

In later years, and particularly from 1986, James Mahlangu himself was viewed as "the unofficial but de facto 'leader of the Opposition'" in KwaNdebele.

James Mahlangu was viewed as a leader of the so-called "Comrades" movement, which was generally allied with the anti-apartheid United Democratic Front and which often clashed violently with Imbokodo, a pro-government vigilante group, and with KwaNdebele police forces.

James Mahlangu himself came under questioning for his own role in the comrades' use of violence against Imbokodo, including through alleged necklacings; he was later questioned on this subject at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

James Mahlangu was a founding member of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa in 1987 and he sent an envoy as part of Contralesa's delegation to a meeting with the anti-apartheid African National Congress.

James Mahlangu was released shortly before the vote and stood in the election, but he was defeated by George "Majozi" Mahlangu by 41 votes to his 25 votes.

James Mahlangu himself succeeded Mabena as Chief Minister of KwaNdebele in May 1990.

James Mahlangu held that position throughout South Africa's democratic transition, leaving on 26 April 1994; thereafter, KwaNdebele was reintegrated into the republic, becoming part of the new Mpumalanga province.

In 1999, James Mahlangu joined the United Democratic Movement, a breakaway from the ANC, and became its provincial leader in Mpumalanga.

James Mahlangu resigned from the UDM and from the legislature less than a year later, in April 2000, again citing health reasons.

However, soon after leaving the UDM, James Mahlangu rejoined the ANC.

James Mahlangu became the traditional leader of the tribe with effect from 3 October 2001.

James Mahlangu died on 19 August 2005 at Louis Pasteur Hospital in Pretoria.