ANC must resolve KZN political violence – IFP - The New Age Online

Warren Mabona

Following murders of its political leaders, the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal has called on the ANC and the provincial government to come up with – and implement – an emergency strategy to protect political leaders who become victims of violence.

IFP MPL Blessed Gwala said the party was concerned about violence in the province, adding that they could not afford to lose more lives.

"While we applaud the work of the South African Police Service, a clear strategy from the ruling party to protect political leaders who are victims of violence should be implemented.

"The ANC is the ruling party and cannot run away from this matter. The party must get people to sit down and find a solution to this violence," Gwala said.

He said the implementation of the strategy would not be a costly exercise involving the use of bodyguards and guns to protect leaders but a dialogue among political parties.

ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza said: "The ANC did its best to bring peace and political tolerance in that province. Political parties must also play a maximum role in order to stem the tide of violence there, like ending the no-go areas against other parties."

Gwala's call followed the murder of IFP leader Sihle Menzi Biyela who was shot in KwaMashu township, Durban, on Monday. Biyela was killed a month after another IFP member, Siya Dlamini, was shot dead outside the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court in Durban, allegedly by a member of the National Freedom Party (NFP).

Gwala said the IFP had lost more than five members to increasing political violence in eThekwini.

He said political violence was escalating because there was no plan to deal with tensions caused by a rivalry among political parties.

"But contrary to his remarks applauding the police, Gwala criticised them for not acting on complaints they once received from the IFP member and former Nongoma municipality mayor Sithembiso Mathaba.

"Mathaba received a threatening SMS and reported it to the police. It was easy for the police to trace that threat but they just said the matter would die down," Gwala said.

Gwala said most of the violence against their members were orchestrated by a rival party that was keen on wresting power from the IFP.

The ANC was not immediately available for comment.

warrenm@thenewage.co.za