21st March 2009

Addressing thousands of supporters in Nongoma today, IFP President Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi painted a bleak picture of KwaZulu Natal and South Africa after successive terms of ANC misrule, suggesting that the hunger of the poor has now become a hunger for change. 

"Our hospitals are grinding to a halt under massive budget overdrafts.

Our schools are turning out fewer and fewer matriculants. Our law-abiding citizens are at the mercy of criminals," said Prince Buthelezi enumerating the failures of the ANC government both at the national level and in KwaZulu Natal.

The IFP President singled out last week's collapse of public transport in Durban. "It is interesting that the ANC cannot find buses for school children in Durban, but it can always bus its own supporters to Nongoma," said Prince Buthelezi alluding to a recent weekend when the IFP and the ANC held concurrent rallies in Nongoma. 

Referring to the recent clashes between supporters of the two parties, the IFP President reiterated his calls for political tolerance. "I appeal to you, as well as supporters of the ANC, not to engage in acts of violence. Let us never forget: we have no enemies, only political opponents. Tolerance is the crown of a democratic society," said Prince Buthelezi. 

The ANC government has failed, the IFP President argued, because its forte has always been presentation rather than substance. "Wherever I go in South Africa, local people tell me in no uncertain terms what economic freedom means to them. The message is always the same. They don't speak of summits, imbizos, targets and task teams," said Prince Buthelezi. 

The people, the IFP President contended, were far more concerned about the basics than 'nice to haves'. "The people need water. The people need electricity. The people need accessible healthcare. The people need access to anti-retroviral drugs and medicine. The people want law and order. We want safe streets," said Prince Buthelezi. 

Drawing on a sea of change just witnessed in America, the IFP President predicted a parallel development in South Africa. "The IEC has reported that a record of number of voters have registered to vote. South Africans are hungry for change. The tide is turning against the ANC. The time has come to build a new majority around the politics of change," said Prince Buthelezi. 

The IFP, its President asserted, will be leading this new majority. "We are the only opposition party with a predominantly black support, a proven track-record in government and the long-term potential of governing the country. We aspire to lead South Africa into a second wave of democratic renewal, deepening democracy and spreading prosperity among our people," said Prince Buthelezi. 

Contact:
Roman Liptak
083 256 4902