The office of the Chief Whip of the ANC in KwaZulu Natal has warned their members in the province to refrain from posting negative comments or share such posts on social media about the late Inkatha Freedom Party founder, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

The letter that was directed to all ANC members and signed by Chief Whip Zenzele Msomi, warned their members to stop with the negative comments as they might lead to tensions between the ANC and the IFP in the province. "We have been requested by Chief Whip and the provincial leadership to refrain from posting messages depicting any negative comments against the late Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi as it will result in tension between the ANC and the IFP. All those members who posted such content are hereby requested to remove those messages and posts with immediate effect," reads the statement.

During the ANC party leaders visit to Buthelezi’s home on Tuesday, deputy president Paul Mashatile told the mourners that the ruling party wished to reconcile with IFP as that was always Buthelezi’s wish. Mashatile said that the ANC was ready to have discussions that would see both parties forming a working relationship. "The most important thing is for the IFP and the ANC to work together, not to emerge as one political party but to work together as different parties but giving each other space," Mashatile said. Responding to Mashatile, IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa said they want to fulfil Buthelezi’s vision of seeing the two parties reconcile. Buthelezi who died on Sunday morning will be buried in Ulundi, north of KwaZulu Natal on Saturday. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday that Buthelezi would be afforded a state funeral.