/ 25 March 1999

IFP EMBARRASSED BY EDITORIAL

THE Inkatha Freedom Party has called for severe disciplinary action to be taken against the editor of Durban daily Ilanga following publication of a racist editorial on Wednesday. Ilanga editor, Amos Maphumulo, in his leader article on Wednesday, wished that South Africa might one day be blessed with the birth of a new Idi Amin. The leader also accused the Natal Indian community of oppressing blacks and fuelling violence among blacks by selling them guns. The IFP owns Mandla Matla Publishing, which owns Ilanga. IFP spokesperson Musa Zondi said: “This editorial is highly embarrassing to the IFP and we regard it as nothing short of internal sabotage. We are concerned that whoever was responsible for the writing of this editorial is playing with fire and is fanning the flames of anti-Indian feelings among Africans.”