13th May 2008

The IFP National Organiser, Mr Albert Mncwango, today announced that the IFP will embark on a series of protest actions aimed at discontinuing the use of a Grade 12 history book titled "IN SEARCH OF HISTORY", published by Oxford Publishers and currently used by schools nationally. There are two marches scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 14th May 2008, in which a Memorandum will be handed over to representatives of the National Department of Education and its Minister, Ms Naledi Pandor. Details for the marches are at the end of this press release.

Dates for further protest actions will be released later.

Albert Mncwango said:

"The IFP is protesting viciously biased propaganda masquerading as Grade 12 history. This is nothing more than the sugar-coating of the ANC's history and brings to mind tactics used by the likes of Goebbels to sell Nazism,"

observed Mr Mncwango. "This Grade 12 history book, which is being used in some schools as a prescribed work, tells blatant lies and deliberately distorts facts about the role of the IFP and the contribution made by its leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi," he continued.

"We cannot allow our children to be poisoned with this tissue of abominable propaganda and the deliberate twisting of history to distort who did what, when and where. Schools should after all be places of learning and not propaganda incubators where learners are brainwashed," Mr Mncwango explained.

Mr Mncwango concluded; "The IFP is not going to stand by idly to see its contribution being trampled and destroyed. We will certainly not allow the legacy of Prince Buthelezi to be so deliberately destroyed. We are going to ensure that this book is removed from schools and will use all legal forms of protest to ensure that this happens ASAP and that this attempt to indoctrinate our children is stopped."

The marches will take place in KZN and begin at 10h00:

1. Portshepstone - Ugu
Contact: Dr SG Nyawauza - 072 637 0063

2. Empangeni - Umhlathuze
Contact: Mr DA Nxumal - 083 273 9048