MEDIA STATEMENT
BY THE
INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
IEC Must Reconsider ANC's Eligibility for 2009 Elections
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24th February 2009 Recent events in KwaZulu Natal have indicated that the African National Congress is again, as in all previous elections, conducting themselves in a confrontational and destructive manner in order to destabilise any political opposition. "The Inkatha Freedom Party today submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission a list of incidents, which is not all inclusive, of acts of intimidation, vandalism and violence perpetrated by ANC members and supporters towards the IFP since our country's transition towards a real democracy. We have unequivocally proved in our complaint that the ANC's hegemonic tendencies are now a real threat to our democracy," said Albert Mncwango, the IFP's National Organiser. It must be stated that the IFP has been incensed by the ruling party's comments about "war talk" in KZN ahead of the upcoming elections. We have objected because the implication has been that all the unfortunate instances of political intolerance that have surrounded the ongoing election campaign in KwaZulu Natal have been, unsurprisingly, once again blamed on the IFP. "The facts paint a different picture. Our complaint submitted to the IEC will dismiss all the propaganda and lies that the ANC is feeding the media. IFP members and supporters have, since the late 1980's, been subjected to constant threats, intimidation and violence for exercising their God-given democratic right of freedom of association. One of the saddest continuing chapters in our Party's history is the targeted assassination of our leadership in a clear attempt to destabilise our Party's organisational abilities. Since 1985 at least 440 IFP leaders have been assassinated for working in their communities and expressing their political views," said Mncwango. From the multitude of serious incidences the IFP has listed it is evident that the ANC does not tolerate political opposition and is bent on ensuring that any effective political opposition is destroyed by whatever means possible. "It is therefore imperative, in the interest of free and fair elections, that the IEC as a matter of urgency investigate all incidents where the ANC is alleged to be involved in and that the ANC's eligibility as a candidate in the elections be investigated in light of their continued intimidation, harassment and violence directed at political opponents," said Mncwango. Members of the media and the public can get a copy of the full complaint lodged by the Inkatha Freedom Party against the African National Congress on our website Contact:
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