IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi reacted angrily to a newspaper column on Friday which questioned his commitment to non-violence.Buthelezi said he had not instructed even 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 were chanting war cries and were very emotional. When I heard them shouting obscenities similar to those which ANC members were shouting about 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."
Source : Sapa /bm/jog
Date : 06 Feb 2009 14:08
