Honourable Speaker,
The Inkatha Freedom Party condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent outbreak of violence at KwaSithebe, Kwa-Zulu Natal, which has resulted in widespread damage to property and led to the shutting down of business premises in the area.
Factories have been torched and approximately 20000 workers and their families have had their livelihoods affected.
It appears that the principal cause of the violence and unrest was primarily because of internal fighting and factionalism within the ANC which then spilt out onto the streets of KwaSithebe. The ANC still appears to following its pre-democratic era motto of “make the country ungovernable.”
The IFP takes the strongest of exception to the reckless behaviour of those within the ruling party who incited this violence and unrest, and urges cool heads to prevail so that the situation can be returned to normality as quickly as possible.
The IFP who encouraged the development of business in KwaSithebe during the party’s successful term of governance of the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, will do everything in its power to assist in this process where possible.
Honourable Speaker, in such a contracting economy we can ill afford to have business raised to the ground because of reckless party politics.
I thank you.