The national representative of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Reverend Musa Zondi, has called for ”calm and restraint” among members and supporters of the IFP in the wake of an assassination attempt on Prince Gideon Zulu this morning, in which his son, Prince Mazwi and the driver, Mr Mdlalose, were critically injured.
Zondi said the IFP was ”shocked at the dastardly assassination attempt” on the life of Prince Zulu as his vehicle was leaving Ulundi, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal province, shortly after 1100 local time on Monday morning.
He said that Zulu only escaped the attempted assassination because he was not travelling in the vehicle. However, Princess Gideon Zulu’s wife, Princess Dolly, and their son, Prince Mazwi, were both travelling in the vehicle that was being driven by Mr Mdlalose. Prince Mazwi and Mr Mdlalose were in a critical condition in hospital.
Reverend Zondi said: ”The IFP is shocked and outraged at what appears to be a blatant assassination attempt on the life of Prince Gideon Zulu, which follows in the wake of a sustained barrage of vilification upon him in recent days.
”The police are at the scene of the crime. The IFP will work with them to ensure that no stone is left unturned until these criminals are brought to justice.
”One again, a destructive minority — the enemies of peace — have raised the ugly spectre of renewed violence in the province. The IFP calls for all practical steps to be taken to contain the anger of the people that may be aroused by this cowardly act. The decent and overwhelming majority of the people of the province are committed to the path of peace and reconciliation we have walked together over the last decade.
”We call upon all political parties in the province to encourage their members to remain calm and cool headed, and united in their resolve not to regress to the tragic internecine violence of yesteryear.”
According to preliminary information, the assassins trailed the car and opened fire, riddling the prince’s vehicle with bullets and causing it to overturn. – I-Net Bridge