Statement by Mr Koos Van Der Merwe, IFP Chief Whip

07 June 2007

The Inkatha Freedom Party Chief Whip, Mr Koos van der Merwe MP, today said that he had taken notice of reports in the Citizen, Beeld, Die Burger and the IFP Parliamentary Caucus statement, about documents relating to his thesis and wanted to urgently clarify this matter.

"I want to make it absolutely clear, that the documents that were accidentally distributed, and then retracted, were personal, uncompleted, academic documents relating to my thesis that I am preparing for my doctors degree. It had nothing to do with my role as Chief Whip of the Inkatha Freedom Party," said Mr van der Merwe.

"In this uncompleted academic document, I never suggest that Afrikaners should join the Democratic Alliance. In fact, if you have a look at the other documents that form part of my uncompleted thesis, anyone will be able to see clearly that I try to argue that all South Africans should support the Inkatha Freedom Party," concluded Mr van der Merwe.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mr Koos van der Merwe MP: 082 444 4944
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470