/ 28 January 2009

ANC claim of no intimidation laughable, says IFP

Claims by the African National Congress (ANC) that it had never disrupted Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) meetings were ludicrous, the IFP charged on Wednesday.

The ruling party was trying to attract publicity for its mass rally in the IFP stronghold of Nongoma by making such statements, IFP spokesperson Musa Zondi said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said such remarks were ”laughable” and irresponsible rhetoric.

”The IFP’s public meetings in KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere are routinely disrupted by rowdy ANC supporters. In fact, many of our pre-election events in KwaZulu-Natal are never complete without disturbances and intimidation by local ANC supporters.”

Zondi also dismissed ANC claims that IFP members had attempted to disrupt preparations for an ANC mass rally on Sunday.

”As a party we have always respected the right of other political parties to communicate their message and for the citizens of this country to exercise their constitutional right of free voluntary political association.”

He said political intolerance had reared its ugly head, but denied it was being fuelled by the IFP.

”We see this time and time again as we head closer to national and provincial elections. The ANC blames the IFP for all sorts of untruths as part of their election strategy,” said Zondi.

He pointed out that it was not only ANC members who were attacked ahead of elections. Recently IFP member Bhekisisa Mthethwa was shot in the head and chest outside Montclair railway station. IFP Youth Brigade chairperson Shadrack Dube was shot dead near his house in the Phumlani township in Hluhluwe.

”The IFP has taken note with concern [of] the almost uniform pattern in the way some of our leaders have been assassinated.

”We believe that it is a systematic campaign to eliminate IFP leaders, derail our campaign and intimidate our supporters before the general election.” — Sapa