Call to explain cancelled conference
IFP LEADER Mangosuthu Buthelezi lashed out at the ANC yesterday for “obstructing reconciliation” and “playing games” with the country’s stability.
Buthelezi made the statements during a press briefing at the IFP headquarters in Durban after the metro’s third social cohesion conference at which he was supposed to give the keynote address but was abruptly cancelled without any reason.
Using examples of historical incidents to draw what he called “a clear pattern” of the ANC scuppering his attempts at reconciliation, Buthelezi said there were some in the ruling party who genuinely believed in social cohesion and reconciliation, “But there is another group, who hold an enormous amount of power, who are determined never to see old wounds healed.
“I am sick of games being played with our nation’s unity, stability, prosperity and hope,” he said.
It was important to know how an “enormous” waste of money could be justified, he said, and people deserved to know “who pulled the strings to bring down the curtain when they heard that Buthelezi was going to speak”.
“There will undoubtedly be some excuse peddled for why this conference couldn’t take place. The fact is it was cancelled with less than 12 hours’ notice; the directive came from above the city council, and no reasons were given,” he said.
In a press release sent out just after 11am yesterday, the eThekwini Municipality said the conference had been postponed until further notice.
It was set to start at 8am yesterday, with 500 participants expected. One of the other bigname speakers would have been Danny Jordaan, president of the SA Football Association.
ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Mdumiseni Ntuli could not be reached for comment. – ANA