SIPHO KHUMALO AND YUSUF MOOLLA
The ANC Youth League’s attempt to campaign at IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s village yesterday had to be abandoned after stick-wielding IFP supporters blocked the route to the village, resulting in the league’s 200-car cavalcade retreating to Ulundi.
Earlier, tempers ran high as singing IFP supporters blocked the route to Buthelezi’s village of Nkonjeni and his homestead of KwaPhindangene, ensuring that league members could not pass.
Police worked overtime, unsuccessfully trying to remove the IFP supporters from the road next to Nkonjeni Hospital.
The stick-wielding crowd – chanting “ Sikhuzeleni uMalema efuna ukuya KwaPhindangene ngenkani(Warn Malema against forcefully invading KwaPhindangene)” – also told journalists they were not wanted, but the IFP leadership let the journalists through after negotiations.
The ANC motorcade, led by the SAPS’s tactical response team and public order policing unit, approached Nkonjeni at about noon.
However, they were advised by the police to abandon the approach as IFP supporters’ vehicles had been parked on the road.
Tempers ran high as youth league members wanted to force their way through the police blockade. However, the league’s leadership persuaded its members to abandon their approach to Buthelezi’s village. Buthelezi had earlier passed his supporters when travelling to church.
In his weekly online letter, he had written about the intended youth league visit, likening it to an invasion of his home. “This statement was issued on Tuesday. The very next day, the ANC stood before the nation at the signing of the (electoral) Code of Conduct organised by the Independent Electoral Commission, and committed itself to ensuring a free and fair election – without intimidation or violence.
“How can one take the ANC’s pledge seriously, when the ANC Youth League is threatening the safety of my family and my household?” he asked.
An IFP supporter, who refused to give his name, said the league’s intention to “invade” KwaPhindangene opened old wounds the IFP suffered when supporters were killed while trying to march to the then ANC headquarters of Shell House, Joburg, in 1994.
ANC Youth League provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo said the incident showed the IFP still believed in no-go areas and had violated the IEC’s policies for free political activity.
“We will take this matter up with the IEC. But we will return, better prepared, with tow trucks to remove their vehicles,” he said.
Mtolo said the incident came just days after the IFP had committed itself to free political activity.
However, the youth league members were warmly received by Buthelezi’s son, Tutu, who laid on a feast for them at his home.
Tutu, an ANC activist in Ulundi, slaughtered a cow for league supporters. He later addressed them, saying the situation in Ulundi was difficult for those who had openly declared ANC membership.
IFP spokesman Thulasizwe Buthelezi, who was among supporters protesting against the intended visit, said his party had been campaigning in the area at the same time as the league event.
“We were also campaigning in ward nine and we had permission from both the police and traditional leaders on the ground. Of course there was a groundswell of IFP supporters who came to the home of their leader to assure him that the IFP will emerge victorious on May 18,” said Buthelezi.
Brigadier Phindile Radebe said police had anticipated that conflict could arise and had taken steps.
KZN chief electoral officer Mawethu Mosery said the IEC was aware of the youth league plans to campaign in Nkonjeni.
“Everyone is free to campaign anywhere in the country.” But the IEC was concerned that parties could not freely campaign in certain areas. “The notion of strongholds is negative. It is not good for our democratic constituency.”
Mosery said the IEC was grateful that the police had maintained “a peaceful environment”.
He said an IEC official had observed yesterday’s events and a decision would be made on how to avoid future stand-offs.
Imraan Buccus, attached to the school of politics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said the standoff was not surprising.
“We would expect violence in parts of KZN, largely because areas traditionally seen as IFP strongholds have been seriously threatened by the ANC.”
He said the IFP’s use of the “Zulu ethnic and identity card” had been weakened by the popularity of President Jacob Zuma, who is also a Zulu.