The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Youth Brigade has come out in support of President Thabo Mbeki over what it said are attempts by Jacob Zuma supporters to create no-go areas for the African National Congress (ANC) leader.
”The IFP Youth Brigade notes with concern that the ANC continues to create ‘no-go’ areas for the country’s president in KwaZulu-Natal,” the organisation said in a statement on Tuesday.
On Saturday, alleged Zuma supporters attending the re-burial service of liberation struggle icon Moses Mabhida in Pietermaritzburg disrupted Mbeki’s speech when they shouted the former deputy president’s slogans while Mbeki was speaking.
In September pro-Zuma supporters embarrassed Mbeki in front of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when they staged a walk-out on the president during a function at Durban’s Kingsmead stadium.
The IFP Youth Brigade said it would discuss the behaviour of Zuma supporters towards President Mbeki at its upcoming national conference, scheduled to take place from December 8 to 10 in Durban.
”The conference will finally discuss the increasingly hostile and boisterous behaviour of Jacob Zuma supporters directed towards the country’s president,” said the Brigade.
Other issues to be discussed during the conference include plans to transform the party into a modern organisation that will appeal to all South Africans.
”The conference will also discuss strategies and tactics of modernising the IFP, plans to expand the party beyond KwaZulu-Natal and youth participation in the 2010 World Cup,” the Brigade said. — Sapa