The Inkatha Freedom Party and police are investigating why seven people were injured in a shooting incident at a political rally in Wembesi township, Estcourt, in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, they said on Monday.
The African National Congress and IFP blamed one another for the shooting at the Wembesi community hall on Sunday.
IFP spokesperson Blessed Gwala said on Monday the IFP had booked the hall where the party held a rally. Gunmen wearing ANC T-shirts had opened fire on the gathering.
Gwala said he did not know if any of the injured people were IFP supporters. The party were still investigating the incident, he said.
On Sunday, ANC provincial spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said he had received a report that his party had booked a hall for a meeting but that the IFP had taken it over at the eleventh hour and that IFP supporters had started shooting at random.
Midlands police spokesperson Captain Joshua Gwala said the case was under investigation. He confirmed seven people had been injured and were in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Gwala said the shooting followed similar incidents. ”On January 18 when the IFP launched its election manifesto the ANC held many meetings around the rally. But when the ANC had its national launch in Pietermaritzburg there were no smaller IFP meetings around the rally.
”This is a well-planned thing by the ANC to frustrate the people.”
Both parties on Sunday condemned the actions.
”The IFP calls for an immediate cessation of violence by supporters of the ANC. The ANC often complains about political interference but here their supporters are indulging in gratuitous and mindless acts of violence,” Gwala said.
Mthimkhulu said: ”We would like police to take tough stands on people causing this tension, whatever their party.” – Sapa