IFP responds to MEC incendiary comments
WHILE the IFP welcomes the formation of a Multi-Party Political Intervention Committee to address political violence, it rejects insinuations that the party is behind political killings.
The party's KZN Spokesperson for Community Safety and Liaison Blessed Gwala says it was disingenuous of Community Safety and Liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka to imply that the IFP is involved in the killing of Nongoma councillors.
Gwala was reacting to the MEC’s
Durban media briefing on Thursday, where Hlomuka stated the attacks began after the coalition government led by the NFP/ANC and the EFF took over the council.
“As the government, we are concerned about the assassinations.
Since the change of council leadership, it’s clear that there is a deliberate act to force the by-elections in that part of the province.
“We commend the community of that area - they are vigilant and working with police to ensure hitmen hired to kill politicians are arrested.
“When the IFP was in power, we did not see these rampant attacks or threats to councillors' lives,” said Hlomuka, citing the murders of several NFP councillors.
He went on to applaud the work being done by police in arresting suspects, and announced the formation of the MultiParty Political Intervention Committee to bring stability to the area.
Gwala said the IFP is against any form of violence, no matter who is involved.
“We welcome the announcement by the MEC, that a multi-party committee to deliberate on critical issues concerning political killings and violence will be convened.
“We hope the meeting will not become a talk shop, but that it will come up with tangible solutions to address crime and political killings as this is cause for concern.”
Responding to Hlomuka's comments, Gwala said: “We are very concerned about the comments made by Hlomuka that the trend of assassinating councillors in Nongoma started after the NFP-ANC and EFF coalition took over.
“The first mayor in South Africa to be killed was Bhekuyise Sikhonde, who was the IFP mayor in Nongoma. IFP councillors such as Themba Ntshangase and Prince Mbongiseni Zulu have also been killed as well as NFP councillors Dumisani Qwabe and Ntombenhle Mchunu,” he said.
“To date, no one has told us who killed these IFP councillors and others. Does MEC Hlomuka mean to imply they committed suicide, were struck by lightning, or were eaten by lions? Hlomuka must stop his slanderous propaganda exercise of attempting to deliberately mislead the nation by distorting facts about the IFP to suit his political agenda. Words matter. Leaders should be very cautious about the things they say, especially in public,” he said.