South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has moved to swiftly condemn the actions of what it said were opposition Inkatha Freedom Party supporters who tried to block South African President Thabo Mbeki’s entrance to an imbizo event in the troubled Tugela Ferry in KwaZulu-Natal earlier on Thursday.
ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngomyama released a statement on Thursday indicating that while the ruling party supports the right of all South Africans “to peaceful protest … these actions are a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of movement which all South Africans including the president enjoy”.
A group of about 150 people — some wearing IFP T-shirts — apparently blocked the president’s access to the presidential imbizo in Tugela Ferry, long a site of clashes between the IFP, which is predominant in the area, and the ANC.
Ngonyama said: “These actions demonstrate a level of political intolerance and contempt for basic rights which has no place in a democratic South Africa.
“They show a blatant disregard also for the constitutional responsibility of the security forces to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the safety of the head of state at all times.
“The ANC calls on the leadership of the IFP to distance itself from the actions of these people.”
IFP spokesperson Nicky Lucas said the party would release a statement shortly.
The incident occurred only days after the two parties — long-time rivals for majority black support in KwaZulu-Natal — held five-a-side talks described as ongoing dialogue led by Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who hails from the province, and the IFP’s veteran politician Celani Mthetwa.
Mbeki has already launched his party’s election manifesto but has given notice that on February 11 he will announce the national and provincial election date. — I-Net Bridge
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