16th August 2008
 

Hot on the heels of two IFP members who were attacked at Tehuis Hostel near uMlazi allegedly by ANC members, another IFP leader was gunned down in Durban this morning. Mr. Bhekisisa Mthethwa, who was the Chairperson of the IFP Branch at Jacobs Hostel, was shot to death at 04h30 at Montclair railway Station as he was on his way to work. Since the IFP made inroads into the Jacobs hostel, Mthethwa and other IFP members have been living under threats of attack, allegedly by ANC members who are not happy with the IFP's gains within the hostel, previously-known as the ANC stronghold. Last year, Mthethwa spent some time in hospital after surviving gun shots.

Mrs. Zanele KaMagwaza Msibi, the National Chairperson of the IFP, expressed shock at the news of the assassination of Mr. Mthethwa. In a statement she issued today she said:

"I am extremely shocked by the sad news of the murder of our Comrade, Bhekisisa Mthethwa. While we cannot conclusively know the circumstances that led to his death, we have strong suspicions that our Comrade was yet another victim of political assassination by our political opponents. What strengthens our suspicions is that Comrade Mthethwa, and other IFP leaders at Jacobs Hostel, have been living under threats of attack ever since our party made inroads into the Jacobs Hostel, after its domination by the ANC. And, last year, the same Comrade was shot and had to be confined to hospital for some time. In addition, Comrade Mthethwa's assassination comes on the heels of another similar attack on our member, Comrade Mduduzi Buthelezi, who was assaulted two weeks ago at Tehuis Hostel near uMlazi, for wearing an IFP t-shirt.

"As the IFP we are very much concerned with what appears to be a momentum-gaining, calculated campaign, to attack our leaders and members who reside in some hostels in eThekwini. What is worse, these attacks are taking place as our country moves towards elections next year. We therefore view them as nothing but intimidatory tactics by political opponents, desperate to thwart the IFP's certain forward march towards reclaiming KwaZulu-Natal, in the 2009 elections. We will not be intimidated!

"We call on the Provincial Minister of Safety, Mr. Bheki Cele, and the police management in this Province, to urgently and zealously leave no stone unturned to bring Comrade Mthethwa's assassins - as well as those who attacked Comrade Buthelezi at Tehuis Hostel - to book. In addition, we call on all political formations in this Province to unconditionally and publicly condemn this barbarism, for it is certain to return our Province to the dark days of violence and mayhem."