The Inkatha Freedom Party says the arrest of eThekwini Municipality ANC Councillor is an omen of perilous times under the ANC's revived Street Committees. The IFP said this in a statement issued today in reaction to reports of the arrest of a prominent ANC Councillor in the eThekwini Municipality for allegedly assaulting and robbing Mr. Ivan Pillay accusing him of having taken a cell phone form a lady. According to reports the ANC Councillor was leading a 15-man armed mob which threatened Pillay.

Speaking on behalf of the eThekwini IFP, IFP MPL Joshua Mazibuko said:

"Today's event - where a Councillor who is supposed to be a leader and custodian of law an order was implicated in such clearly criminal activities - is shameful and brings back frightening memories of the terror campaigns of the 80's perpetrated by the notorious Street Committees among our communities.

"Above that, it stands as an omen of the perilous times communities will live in, under an ANC government - should voters return them to power. For, it will be remembered that recently the ANC - through its President Mr. Jacob Zuma - went all over the country urging  the revival of the Street Committees which they operated in the 80's at the height of violence.

"As the IFP, we objected to Mr. Zuma's call for the revival of the notorious Street Committees. Some sections of the community, however, saw us as opposing participation by communities in fighting crime.

"Our opposition was based on the practical experience of what life was in the 80's when the Street Committees-led Kangaroo Courts wreaked havoc among communities, where old men and women were forced to parade naked in public and in broad daylight.

"Our people must see today's mob-attack led by the ANC Councillor for what it is - a foretaste of the reign of terror that will be the order of the day under the ANC government's strategy to fight crime. If this is the type of reign of terror that the citizens of this country want to live under, then they must vote for the ANC again.   

 "If however they want crime free society where there is law and order and value-based society, then the IFP is their only choice."

Issued by:
M. Joshua Mazibuko IFP MPL      072 927 0993