Makhosini Nkosi
The Inkatha Freedom Party could suffer a serious setback in KwaZulu-Natal if the African National Congress presses ahead with efforts to have the election in the town of Nongoma declared not free and fair.
Senior KwaZulu-Natal ANC sources said the party intends bringing an application to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)to have the election in Nongoma annulled. The decision will be guided by the ANC’s performance in the election in the area.
Last week the ANC moved into Nongoma for the first time in history to put up its election posters in the IFP stronghold. The posters were removed within the hour, allegedly by IFP supporters led by the town’s deputy mayor, Sipho Sikhonde.
Northern KwaZulu-Natal ANC election co- ordinator Senzo Mchunu says they received information that the posters were removed by a group of men being transported in a white bakkie. Sikhonde owns one.
“There is no way Nongoma can have free and fair elections as long as dangerous lunatics like Sikhonde still roam the streets,” Mchunu said.
Last week IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi implored his supporters in Nongoma to allow the ANC to campaign freely. Buthelezi warned that barring the ANC could lead to elections in the area being declared not free and fair. Mchunu says there is clear evidence that there was a group of “IFP hotheads” in Nongoma who did not heed Buthelezi’s call.
A local businessman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Sikhonde and other local IFP leaders have mobilised supporters to intimidate local people into not welcoming President Nelson Mandela when he visits the area. Mandela is scheduled to visit King Goodwill Zwelithini to bid him farewell in his capacity as the country’s head of state.
Local IFP leader and party MP Albert Mncwango denied that people were being intimidated and forced to snub Mandela. “It’s a personal matter. If he [Mandela] wants to visit the king, we have nothing to do with that.”
Mncwango also denied that IFP supporters removed ANC posters. “Those posters were removed by rain accompanied by strong gale winds. They were not removed by IFP supporters.”
However, IFP posters still remain attached to lampposts in the area. “The ANC is using cheap material posters. They are easily removed by the rain,” Mncwango said.
The home of the IEC’s local electoral officer, Langa Ntshangase, was recently petrol-bombed in an apparent political attack. Ntshangase is a former IFP councillor who was accused of joining the ANC.
Another former IFP member suspected of being recruited by the ANC, Commander Ngcobo, was gunned down last month near a taxi rank after he helped distribute ANC pamphlets.
Mchunu denied that Ntshangase was an ANC member. Mchunu claimed that Sikhonde pointed a firearm at Ntshangase during a fracas. A charge of pointing a firearm was pressed against Sikhonde. However, Sikhonde pressed a counter-charge and both men were arrested and detained for a day.
Mncwango dismissed allegations that Ntshangase’s house was burnt down by IFP supporters, adding that Ntshangase is “a person with a dubious character”.
Efforts to get comment from Ntshangase were unsuccessful.