Inkatha Freedom Party deputy national chairperson Musa Zondi on Monday denied any knowledge of a pamphlet claiming that Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota would be the next premier if the African National Congress won the election in KwaZulu-Natal.
The pamphlet, which says that because the province was not ready for a Xhosa to lead, and would meanwhile need a Sotho leader, has been doing its rounds in the province.
Its contents were read out on Sunday at an ANC rally when ANC provincial leader S’bu Ndebele also said it was the first he had heard of the pamphlet.
On Monday, the IFP’s Zondi also said it was the first time he had heard of the leaflet.
”In August last year a leaflet of the same nature was also circulating in the province,” he recalled.
”We have no idea where this publication comes from. It’s probably somebody who has a grudge against the ANC. It was not printed by the IFP.”
Referring to the part about Lekota becoming the next premier, Zondi said: ”This is an ill-informed pamphlet. It would be illegal for Lekota to be even considered to be the premier since he is not a registered candidate in KwaZulu-Natal.”
Zondi was speaking at the IFP final rally where tens of thousands of IFP supporters had gathered in KwaNongoma.
During the rally, two former ANC members in the province announced their defection to the IFP.
Mduduzi Nkosi and Mpatho Mtshali said they are glad to have come back home to the IFP.
The two claimed they had been sent to spy on the IFP for the ANC and that they were trained to destablise and neutralise the IFP in Ulundi.
”I regret being a sell-out all these years but I have come back home. I was misled by the ANC and trained to do evil things for the party,” said Nkosi.
He did not elaborate on the ”evil” things, which he said he could disclose only to senior IFP members.
IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said many people felt that not enough had been done about problems of HIV-Aids, crime, unemployment, poverty and corruption in the past five years.
He urged the people to go out in numbers to vote on the election day.
”Many people feel that they should not go and vote again, because they do not see what the purpose is to vote for the third, fourth and fifth time in a row, when nothing substantial has changed in their lives.
Also attending the rally were Home Affairs MEC Gideon Zulu, KwaZulu-Natal premier Lionel Mtshali and Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana. – Sapa