IFP launches probe on T-shirt ‘bribery’ claims
Buthelezi to root out graft if Limpopo votes for party
The IFP will investigate claims that people were bribed with T-shirts to attend its rally in Limpopo at the weekend. Several people who arrived at Jack Botes hall in central Polokwane wearing T-shirts said they were not party members.
Some of the people at the rally were clad in white T-shirts showing the face of party leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. IFP national chairperson Blessed Gwala said: “I’m going to investigate the allegations.”
Gwala said he will ask the chairpersons of Limpopo branches why they allowed people who were not members to board buses to the rally.
Ntsieni Mugwedi was one of the people bused in from Nzhelele outside Makhado. He said he was approached by friends and asked to accompany them to the rally. “I’m not a member of the IFP. I was only asked to wear the T-shirt when accompanying people to the election rally,” said Mugwedi.
Thabo Matjokotja said he was walking past the Jack Botes Hall on Saturday when he was given the T-shirt to wear. “I took the T-shirt but I won’t wear it. Actually, I’m going to give it to a friend of mine who washes cars for a living,” said Matjokotja.
However, Daniel Tlou, the party’s provincial coordinator, maintained those people who were wearing IFP T-shirts at the rally were members. Speaking at the rally, Buthelezi said the IFP would prioritise fighting corruption if it won the elections in Limpopo. “There is corruption that needs to be rooted out in Limpopo,” Buthelezi said, citing the lack of clean drinking water and the VBS scandal.
“South Africa deserves more than just crisis management. I urge the people of Limpopo to work with the IFP to ensure that we run a corruption-free province.”