Reverend Zondi: An intellectual personification of still waters run deep

“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” – Eugene Ionesco

IN attempting to achieve an adequate understanding of this remarkable man, one relies on perception and encounter. I feel profoundly honoured to write about this man of imperturbable demeanour, from whom I have learnt humility over the years.

Were it not for fortuitous circumstances, occasioned by the exchange of ideas about the complementarity of heritage and tourism, we would never have met. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to meet him and remain appreciative of his remarks, reciprocating my extolling of his virtues, especially his bearing and character.

A man of remarkable refinement and graciousness, he is, above all, a warm, charming, generous, principled, and modest human being, with a fierce sense of justice and support for the less privileged. This piece is therefore an appreciation of his great and colourful, yet down-to-earth, personality.

Reverend Musa Zondi is kind, compassionate, and empathetic. He possesses strong moral values and strives to improve the world through his actions and words, evident in his activism and collegiality. He is a man of integrity and honesty with an enjoyable personality. A friendly and likeable man, he speaks slowly but, once animated, undergoes an astonishing transformation, radiating ardour and energy worthy of biblical prophets.

Ever gracious, attentive, charming, riveting, disarmingly modest, and scrupulously honest, Zondi is a good, kind, and generous man, a person of great integrity, hospitality, and warmth. Simple yet profound, he never loses his sense of humanity and justice. He is a gentleman from the “old school” who gives dignity to everything he undertakes. He is a true and loyal friend for whom family represents holiness.

Zondi always moves forward with faith. He is an extremely attentive husband and devoted father. A compassionate and brilliant thinker, Zondi is not only a politician but also an incisive philosopher. Philosophers are often respected and admired, but I know of none so loved and respected by so many as Rev Zondi. The man of God is considered very straightforward and widely respected for his calm approach.

One of the amazing things about Zondi is that he lives his life with total integrity, inspiring and motivating one to emulate his life, however feebly. Zondi is certainly a private person, but one with a dry sense of humour and highly tuned political instincts. Owing to his years in politics, he can identify “where the shoe pinches” and propose solutions that could enable parties to reach a face-saving agreement.

If one were to craft Zondi’s personal motto, it would be Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s quote, “Build, don’t talk”. As for his seemingly dull image, he would borrow the response of Max van der Stoel, the Dutch politician and diplomat who, when criticised for having a dull image, responded: “As a public personality, you have to be careful, certainly when you are skating on thin ice, with people on all sides who would not mind if I fell through the ice. So that perhaps explains why I give the impression of a sphinx, of a reserved, maybe even cool, personality.”

With his open and refreshing personality, he easily draws people into conversation, and once engaged, debates with gusto. One can write pages about Rev Zondi’s contribution to the struggle for freedom and his tireless spirit invested unreservedly in the development of his party, the Inkatha Freedom Party.

His humility and honesty are worth emulating. Zondi’s generous and inclusive outlook is mirrored in the hospitality, integrity, and warmth he unfailingly displays. With him, there is neither hierarchy nor pomp. Through his behaviour, as exemplified by his imperturbable demeanour, Zondi teaches us to be better people because he is, first, a down-to-earth man. His natural character, with pronounced elements of modesty, unobtrusiveness, humanity, dedication, tolerance, justice, perseverance, and selflessness, are worth emulating.

A tireless enthusiast, he did not give up even in the most fragile moments. Rev Zondi is conscientious almost to a fault and disarmingly humble given his accomplishments. He is a mensch—a wonderful person and friend who embodies goodness and genuine human conviction. With his educated soul, he negotiates the complexities and perplexities of life and strives for excellence in all its affairs.

Deeply aware of life’s contingencies, one is tempted to believe that he might like the words of Nicolás Gómez Dávila, who posits that: “Even if we know that everything will perish, we still have to build our home in granite, even if it is only for one night.” He is selfless and tireless in sharing experiences and knowledge, his noble mission—visible in all his undertakings—being to create a caring society.

Zondi is an adventurer of ideas who wishes other adventurers well. Recently, I had the honour of engaging him on heritage and tourism, and he excelled. Whenever he speaks, even off the cuff, one could be forgiven for thinking he is reading from a written text. He always expresses respect to all and sundry.

Even though I may lack the necessary perspective—that afforded by a certain distance—to reflect in a suitable way on Zondi, despite having known him for years (albeit at a distance), I have and still associate his character with virtue. His character testifies to sincere effort and achievement, refined by enthusiasm and a sincere desire for the public good. He reminds us that there is a clear and essential difference between pure personal ambition and the personal ambition to contribute to society.

Zondi’s work is characterised by diligence and honesty. I reverently call Rev Zondi "the most original mind of his generation" because he is a politician of high potential, analytical sharpness, political sense, keen insight, and perseverance, who has directly and indirectly mentored many leaders in politics.

In 1994, Zondi was elected to represent Inkatha (by then restyled as the IFP) in the KwaZulu-Natal caucus of the Senate (later the National Council of Provinces). In the next general election in 1999, he was elected to the National Assembly on the party list for the KwaZulu-Natal constituency. He also served as the IFP’s national spokesperson.

In January 2001, President Thabo Mbeki appointed him Deputy Minister of Public Works, deputising for Minister Stella Sigcau. Following Zondi’s re-election in 2004, Mbeki invited him to stay on as Deputy Minister, but Zondi could not accept owing to differences between the ANC and the IFP. After receiving this response, Mbeki said he would simply appoint two other deputy ministers willing to accept the job immediately.

Zondi continued as an ordinary Member of Parliament and was re-elected in 2009. Simultaneously, Zondi served as secretary-general of the party and was considered a frontrunner to succeed Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi as IFP president. However, during his tenure as secretary-general, the IFP experienced internal divisions and electoral setbacks, leading some to question his leadership and strategic direction.

In December 2011, Zondi announced that he would not stand for re-election as secretary-seneral and would instead spend more time with his family. In February 2012, Zondi announced his immediate retirement from frontline politics, resigning from the IFP secretary-general’s office and his legislative seat.

In October 2023, Zondi returned to active politics, sworn into the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature for the IFP. Following the 2024 election, Zondi was appointed Member of the Executive Council (MEC) responsible for the portfolio of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea). While his appointment was welcomed by some, others expressed concern about his previous track record and the IFP's declining influence in the province.

From his personal and unique work ethic, energy, creativity, selflessness, and true and uncompromising excellence, from his leadership, numerous achievements have significantly contributed to making him one of the jewels of KwaZulu-Natal.

Zondi is an impeccable teacher, a man of inexhaustible energy and knowledge, a faithful friend, and a humble man. Nondaba, Zondi’s clan name, is a humble soul. Zondi would never call himself humble, of course (the humble never do), but his works reveal an unmistakable and contagious gratitude for the life of the mind that can only come from humility.

Zondi is undoubtedly one of the best protégés of uMntwana wakaPhindangene, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, standing proudly and deservedly on the shoulders of the giant of KwaPhindangene. Indeed, Zondi’s political trajectory was shaped by Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s mentorship.

Undoubtedly, both his intellectual prowess and political acumen tower over those of his peers. He enjoys widespread respect and admiration for his qualities. We can be confident that his influence will endure and that many will offer a fuller appreciation of his work by giving it the deep evaluation it merits.

In terms of breadth and depth, Zondi stands out as a colossus. His creative genius combines precision with imagination for highly efficient use. His passionate quest to serve humanity and his undeterred search for truth can be powerfully felt by all who meet him. It is his remarkable personality that has earned him not only the respect but also the admiration of many colleagues across the political spectrum.

One may add that Zondi’s diplomatic skills and unwavering courteousness—fortiter in re, suaviter in modo—are a joy to experience and a model for anyone’s conduct.

* Dr Vusi Shongwe works in the Department of Arts and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal and writes in his personal capacity.

** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, Independent Media or IOL.