‘Expert’s’ baseless accusation slanders IFP

ANC launched the ‘people’s war’, writes Sibongile Nkomo MP, secretary-general of the IFP.

Itake strong exception to the front page of The Citizen declaring that, according to an “expert”, killing is entrenched in the culture of ANC and IFP members. This baseless accusation is damaging.

Against all logic, the relevant article (“Violence entrenched in ANC, IFP culture”, May 30) claims intra-party violence within the ANC has arisen because IFP members joined their ranks. Apparently the so-called “expert” believes the ANC was pure as the driven snow before it recruited “violent” IFP supporters in 2007.

This fantastical narrative runs contrary to all the evidence of history. It contradicts the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, that the ANC was the common denominator which created a spiral of violence in KwaZulu-Natal. It contradicts the vast record of violence initiated by the ANC “preceding and shortly after the dawn of democracy” and the fact that responsive acts by IFP supporters were always spurred by endless attacks on them, their homes and their families.

Violence was a stated political tool of the ANC from the moment it launched its armed wing. The people’s war it unleashed on our communities was sanctioned and lauded by ANC leaders.

The IFP has never had a military wing. And our leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, has always rejected violence as a political tool. He called for peace and no retaliation throughout the worst times of political violence. It was because we rejected violence that Inkatha became a target of the ANC. Inkatha refused to be used as a conduit to bring bloodshed to our soil.

It is slanderous towards our members to claim that killing is entrenched in their culture.