Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi lashed out at African National Congress criticism of his statement that many South Africans in rural areas were much better off 10 years ago than they are now.
He was speaking at the launch of the party’s election campaign in Limpopo, sharing the podium with the leader of the Alliance for Democracy and Prosperity (ADP), Nelson Ramodike.
”Last Wednesday I was attacked in Parliament by a prominent ANC leader, Dr Pallo Jordan, who asked me to resign because I stated in my reply to the president that many South Africans in rural areas were much better off 10 years ago than they are now, because of the increased levels of poverty,” Buthelezi told the rally.
Buthelezi said he found no pleasure in saying this.
”The fact is that in many areas, such as those which were under my control when I was the chief minister of the erstwhile KwaZulu government, there was much greater food security for all and people in rural areas at least had the opportunity of enjoying a healthy, full and balanced diet.”
Buthelezi said he had spoken about increasing poverty in rural areas in Parliament for three years in a row.
”Obviously the ANC did not listen to me if Dr Pallo Jordan was tasked to attack me this week, as if it had been the first time that I ever mentioned this issue.”
Buthelezi added: ”The South African people must wonder what will become of them because if the ANC is not listening to me, it is not listening to them either. By the hundreds, and indeed by the thousands, ordinary people have come to me, telling me that they were better off 10 years ago than they are now.
”It gives me no pleasure to hear their complaints because I, myself, feel the grip of failure twisting my own guts and breaking my heart.”
Buthelezi said people asked him to do something about HIV/Aids, crime, unemployment, corruption and poverty.
”They no longer believe that the ANC can handle them, after having spent many years not doing enough to deal with them. Everyone knows what these five crises are. There is consensus that these crises exist.” — Sapa