IFP PRESS STATEMENT BY: 
IFP PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS

29th May 2008

The Inkatha Freedom Party Parliamentary Caucus would like to raise its voice and condemn, in the strongest possible manner, the Durban metro council's decision yesterday to push ahead with its controversial street-renaming project in Durban.

Although we agree that in some instances name changes are necessary, we are angered by the ANC's decision to change the names of the Mangosuthu Highway and the Princess Magogo Stadium.

Our leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, after whom the Mangosuthu Highway is named, played a key role for almost half a century in the fight against apartheid and ultimately played a leading role in the liberation of South Africa.

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and his mother, Princess Magogo, have both brought considerable local and international recognition to our country and made vast contributions to province of KwaZulu-Natal over many decades.

It is unthinkable then, that our ruling party would ignore the contributions of these two great South Africans by forging ahead with the changes against the will of many citizens of the province. What is just as absurd is the renaming of Kingsway road to Andrew Zondo - the MK operative who planted a bomb at the Sanlam Centre in 1985 killing several civilians.

It is clear that the Durban metro council is targeting the IFP by playing political games. And it is clear that their street-renaming project has got nothing to do with honouring the heroes of our struggle for freedom, but that it has got everything to do with twisting history to suit their own political agenda.

The renaming of the streets of Durban will without a doubt re-open old wounds from the past and therefore the IFP vows to fight back so that we can have street names that truly reflect our rich culture and history.

As a party we will continue to protest. We will even take our fight to the highest courts if need be. The ANC's autocratic practices cannot be allowed in a democratic South Africa.