The African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday again asked the court to prevent the rival Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) from holding a rally near the venue of an ANC event scheduled for the weekend in KwaZulu-Natal’s Umsinga area.
”The ANC has once again been forced to resort to the courts to seek protection against the continuing provocation by the IFP,” the party said in a statement on Tuesday.
Last month the ANC approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court after it emerged that the IFP was going to hold a rally a stone’s throw away from the ANC rally in Nseleni.
The ANC approached the court after chaos broke out between IFP and ANC supporters when the two parties held rallies closed to each other in Nongoma in January.
The court ruled in favour of the ANC, preventing IFP supporters from holding their rally 5km away from the ANC event. The IFP defied the court interdict and the police opened a case of illegal gathering against the party.
The ANC on Tuesday claimed that the IFP had hastily planned to convene its rally in the same venue after learning about the ANC rally. ”The ANC is resorting to courts to prevent the attack on its supporters and to encourage free, peaceful and democratic campaigning in all areas including those that the IFP believe should be no-go areas for the ANC,” the party said.
IFP national organiser Albert Mncwango was not immediately available to comment.
ANC spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Nonfundo Mcetywa, said they had learnt that the IFP was opposing the application. ”This shows that they really want to cause chaos.”
The judgement was expected to be made on Thursday, she said. — Sapa