KwaZulu-Natal African National Congress (ANC) chairperson Zweli Mkhize said on Monday he and President Jacob Zuma did not influence traditional leaders who voted against Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
”We have read with disbelief comments in the media purported to have been made by Dr Buthelezi, accusing President Zuma and I of plotting against Dr Buthelezi’s election as chairman of the House of Traditional Leaders,” he said.
Buthelezi withdrew as a candidate for the post of chairperson in the KwaZulu-Natal house of traditional leaders during the elections last month, saying he was not prepared to be used as a tool to divide traditional leadership.
His announcement came after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) tallied nominations which placed Bhekisisa Bhengu, another traditional leader, ahead of him. Bhengu had 28 nominations to Buthelezi’s 24.
Buthelezi later claimed that Zuma and Mkhize had promised amakhosi (traditional leaders) material benefits in a bid to oust him as chairperson of the house.
In a statement released on Monday, Mkhize said Zuma had met amakhosi but he denied the meeting was organised to hatch a plan to oust Buthelezi from his position.
”Zuma had a meeting with almost 80 amakhosi from this province. Many of them had long been requesting for an opportunity to meet him … As ANC provincial chairperson, I facilitated the meeting.”
During the meeting, amakhosi pledged support for Zuma as they believed he was poised to take over the highest office, he said.
Mkhize said it was obvious Buthelezi had lost support of amakhosi in the province and he was trying to mislead people by inventing lies.
Mkhize said he was unhappy that Buthelezi had been quoted casting doubts about Zuma’s sincerity about reconciliation.
”Even more shocking is his effort to create a wedge between Zuma and the deputy president of the ANC, Kgalema Motlanthe, by suggesting there is conflict in the views of the two leaders,” said Mkhize.
He said Zuma remained fully committed to reconciliation between the IFP and ANC.
The ANC had resisted responding to the misleading statements as the party respected the IFP leader, he said.
It was the repetition of ‘falsehoods in the public media†that led Mkhize to respond now to Buthelezi’s statements.
Mkhize also raised concerns that every time the IFP lost elections, it accused the IEC of conducting a fraudulent poll.
”Each time such accusations were made, no proof was provided and consequently the matter never reached the Electoral Court. Why?”
In the last elections Buthelezi accused the premier’s office of generating fraudulent ballots.
”This matter was investigated without the premier’s knowledge and it was false,” Mkhize said. — Sapa