/ 6 February 2009

Minister denies provoking KZN clashes

KwaZulu-Natal safety minister Bheki Cele denied provoking an attack between Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and African National Congress (ANC) supporters in Nongoma last weekend, his spokesperson said on Friday.

He has also challenged IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi to a full briefing on how the clash occurred, to prevent future incidents.

”It has since been confirmed with the MEC [provincial minister] that the IFP had no conclusive evidence for their statements. Yet, despite this, the baseless public assault on the reputation of the MEC and the [police] continues unabatedly,” said Nonkululeko Mbatha.

The IFP alleged that Cele provoked IFP supporters by ordering the police to fire tear gas and rubber bullets at them.

Mbatha said Buthelezi’s accusations were promoting hostility between the police and the community.

”We therefore call on the IFP to immediately retract these statements and cease making these allegations. We call on Buthelezi and IFP leaders to a full briefing for a better understanding on the matter, anywhere and anytime.”

Earlier on Friday Buthelezi reacted angrily to a newspaper column in the Daily Times which questioned his commitment to non-violence.

Buthelezi said he had not instructed a single IFP member to attack ANC supporters, adding that attacks had happened before he even arrived.

”When I arrived in Nongoma, I saw a lot of parked vehicles, including buses. I also saw [safety and security] MEC Bheki Cele giving orders to members of the police in a most unbelievable manner.

”I was informed that he had instructed the police to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse IFP members who, I was told, had allegedly been blocking buses that were ferrying ANC members to a rally.”

The stoning of buses which resulted in six people being injured happened before he arrived, Buthelezi said in a statement.

”When I arrived, a group of our members was chanting war cries and was very emotional. When I heard them shouting obscenities similar to those which ANC members were shouting about [former] president Mbeki, I immediately got out of the car and reprimanded them.”

Buthelezi accused the journalist of failing to capture what is happening in KZN.

”There are tensions between the ANC and the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal. In the last few months a poster bearing my photograph was petrol-bombed in the Ugu district. A few months ago our IFP chairperson of Jacob’s Hostel in Durban, Bhekisisa Mthethwa, was murdered.”

He questioned why there has been no arrest for the murder, saying that arrests had been made in connection with the killings of ANC members.

”There are many other instances I can quote which indicate that not everything is rosy between the ANC and the IFP in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.” — Sapa