The mudslinging and violent undercurrent in Durban’s name-change row continued this week, with the IFP alleging that eThekwini city manager Mike Sutcliffe’s comments to the media had contributed to the harassment and intimidation of one of its councillors.
The IFP leader in the council, Thembi Nzuza, claimed this week that she had received death threats after Sutcliffe told The Mercury newspaper that the IFP and DA organisers of a May Day march in protest against proposed changes to Durban street names would pay for the damage marchers had caused and condemned ‘thuggeryâ€. Marchers vandalised and robbed city centre shops.
Nzuza said she believed the remarks had given ANC members carte blanche to intimidate her. ‘The threats] are obviously politically motivated. I have received several messages on my phone abusing both me and my leader [Mangosuthu Buthelezi] and telling me that I will soon be a beautiful young corpse.â€
She said the caller, a young man speaking both Xhosa and Zulu, had referred to criticism of certain proposed name changes she had made on Igagasi FM the day after the march.
The IFP particularly objects to the proposed renaming of Mangosuthu Buthelezi Highway after assassinated ANC lawyer Griffiths Mxenge, and of the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu after the late provincial ANC leader Dumisani Makhaye. Other controversial proposals are the renaming of Moore Road after Che Guevara, Higginson Highway after Yasser Arafat and Rockdale Avenue in Westville after the son of provincial Premier Sbu Ndebele.
Nzuza added that after the radio interview she had been followed from the studio by a black BMW, which had tried to run her off the road. She has opened a case of intimidation and harassment at Umlazi police station. Sutcliffe dismissed claims that he had called councillors thugs or that the intimidation could be linked to his remarks.
Talk of violence has dogged controversy over the name changes, criticised as unprocedural, too sweeping and divisively biased in favour of ANC struggle icons. IFP chair Musa Zondi, addressing the march, said: ‘We are not afraid to fight and die [over the issue].â€
This was followed by claims by Sutcliffe that a lone gunman with an antiquated .303 military rifle had been present at a May Day march. Local newspapers also reported that senior politicians, including Durban mayor Obed Mlaba, seen as one of the main movers in the name changes, may have been in danger.
The police later said a rifle had been confiscated in the Albert Park area where the march began, several hundred metres away from the city hall.
This week the DA complained that the ANC-led Durban council had undermined the agreed process for name changes by not providing the city’s executive committee with a policy framework document.
‘The present process has simply ignored the council resolution and skipped the input of ward committees and local communities and, perhaps more seriously, the oversight of the official standing committee,†said John Steenhuisen, DA Caucus leader.
Steenhuisen said the DA was still investigating the legal options regarding the proposed change. Sutcliffe reiterated that the process was still open.
Durban residents have until May 11 to submit comments.