ANC RESPONDS TO IFP'S UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS
The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal has noted with concerns the statement issued by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) today which made a lot of unsubstantiated allegations.
The IFP alleges that the ANC has been part of a plot to unseat Mangosuthu Buthelezi as the chairman of the Zululand House of traditional leaders.
ANC provincial Secretary Sihle Zikalala said: "These allegations are laughable to say the least. It is public knowledge that the ANC had nothing to do with the election process as it was a government driven initiative.
"It is really puzzling to the ANC that a political party (IFP) can make such unfounded allegations over a process that was strictly not political and which was presided over by an independent institution. The ANC strongly believes that the IFP must bring forward evidence or just shut up.
"We have noted that the IFP always resist to accept outcomes of democratic processes be it the general elections or the election of structures of civil society. In democratic processes, no one is forced to vote for this or that candidate. It is a process where people express their preferences through the secret ballot.
"And to suggest that people are influenced is to belittle their intelligence. But, critically, this smacks of a ploy by the IFP to divert attention from the humiliating defeat that their leader suffered in a credible and democratic process. The IFP must accept that their leader has become irrelevant and is being rejected by all the structures of society.
"With regard to the history of Buthelezi, we regard him as a senior statesman and we remain committed to the process of reconciliation with the IFP. It is public knowledge that we have been calling for the IFP to close up shop and return home because we believe that the era of the existence of the IFP is fast coming to an end."
Statement issued by Sihle Zikalala, ANC KwaZulu Natal provincial secretary, July 11 2012
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