16 April 2009

The IFP has lambasted MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu's statement that former exiles suffered more than those who remained within apartheid South Africa, as an insult to millions of the victims of apartheid. The IFP said this in statement issued today when in response to MEC Mabuyakhulu's statement reportedly made at KwaMashu township during the hand-over of houses to former soldiers of uMkhonto weSizwe. The IFP Member of the Provincial Legislature and Member of the Housing Portfolio Committee said:

"It is very insensitive of the MEC, Mr. Mike Mabuyakhulu to depict former exiles as having suffered more than those who remained within apartheid South Africa. It is an insult for him to trivialize the sufferings of millions who were trapped in and toiled in farms, factories and other places of work, in prisons and the in rural parts of this Province and who, daily, lived far worse than animals in squalid conditions. What barometer did he use to measure the levels of sufferings of our people? The MEC should stop currying favour to his Comrades at the expense of our people. He should in fact retract his statement."

Issued by:

M. Joshua Mazibuko

IFP MPL                                         072 927 0993