12 February 2010

The IFP would like to place on record its disgust with the public attack launched by ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema against former President FW de Klerk and the IFP yesterday.

Malema is reported to have said that: "(De Klerk) sponsored the IFP to kill... we must never compare him to Nelson Mandela. De Klerk will remain an apartheid leader." 

"On a day that we celebrated the historic release of Nelson Mandela and reconfirmed our commitment to nation-building, Malema again ruined all our reconciliation efforts by launching this brazen, unfounded and racist attack against Mr de Klerk and the IFP. His comments, 20 years after the release of Madiba, were grossly out of line with Mandela's vision of a united, reconciled South Africa and a clear indication that the ANC is no longer guided by Madiba's visions and principles," said Velaphi Ndlovu, the IFP's Deputy National Chairperson.   

Ndlovu added: "Malema is fuelling discontent among South Africans; he is a threat to our young democracy and an embarrassment to our country," said Ndlovu.  

Ndlovu added that the IFP will no longer sit back and allow Malema and his youth league cronies to launch attacks on the IFP. 

"The ANC's silence on this matter speaks volumes; but we will no longer tolerate Malema's unruly behaviour. We have said time and time again that he must be disciplined. We are calling on the ANC to rein him in, or we will encourage the FW de Klerk Foundation to join us in seeking legal advice on this matter," added Ndlovu.