RESPONSE TO MEDIA REPORTS OF ARREST
OF ALLEGED IFP MEMBERS AT MANGUZI
 

October 9, 2006

The IFP Secretary-General, Rev Musa Zondi, today responded to media reports of the arrest of 'IFP soldiers' at Manguzi in Northern KwaZulu-Natal for allegedly planning to cross the border to Mozambique.

Rev Musa Zondi said, "The IFP distances itself from the alleged actions of former Self Protection Unit (SPU) members which was mobilised by the erstwhile KwaZulu Government. The IFP distances itself from the alleged attempt to cross to Mozambique and to undergo illegal military training.
The Party has done everything in its power to explain to them about the process of integration into the SANDF, especially the fact that the integration process had long come to an end. The Party even made suggestions of alternative forms of skills training which would equip them to be employable but they refused all such offers insisting that they wanted integration into the SANDF. It seems that they are not prepared to listen to anyone and it seems that someone is misleading these young people and that is perhaps why they embarked on such an alleged ill advised undertaking. The Party would like to emphasise that it has no military structures and it has warned people who have been recruiting younger members of the Party in the pretext that such recruitment had the blessing of the Party."

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the insinuation which is made in some sections of the media that these people are actually IFP 'soldiers' because the IFP is in the business of politics and has nothing to do with any military operations," Rev Zondi concluded.


For further information contact:
Rev Musa Zondi, IFP Secretary-General 083 440 5966
Mr Albert Mncwango, IFP National Organiser 083 448 4896
Mr Velaphi Ndlovu, IFP Deputy National Chairperson 083 625 0803