Dear editor,
I am writing to raise my concern about the recent arrest of 452 "IFP veterans" near Mahlabathini for their alleged involvement in illegal military training.
This is not surprising considering the recent rise of political violence in KwaZulu Natal. This is bigger than it appears to be. The IFP leaders themselves are not angels in this saga. By commission or omission they have always supported the unlawful and barbaric behaviour of their supporters.
A number of ANC leaders like Bheki Cele, Mike Mabuyakhulu, and Mershak Hadebe were recently heckled and insulted by IFP members in the presence of IFP leaders during government functions and there was no intervention or condemnation of such behaviour from the IFP leadership.
By attacking Mike Mabuyakhulu in public, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi himself directly or indirectly incited his followers to be on a war path. This was not for the first time though that Buthelezi failed to control his temper as he once lost it against Prince Sifiso Zulu some few years ago.
Chief Buthelezi and recently Thembi Nzuza have mastered the art of talking peace and war with the same tongue at the same time. This is the leader who claimed to have fought for democracy in this country, but when democracy unfolds against him he always makes threats against the democratic institutions that he claimed to have fought for. For instance threats that people are angry and there would be blood shed.
They are using the name change issue to unleash and perpetrate violence and create fear and uncertainty in the minds of the people. It must be recalled that Chief Buthelezi refused to testify before the Truth and Reconciliation commission despite being implicated for inciting violence in KwaZulu Natal and in Gauteng.
Does he really respect our democratic institutions and the values that it stands for? It must be remembered that even President Thabo Mbeki was once disturbed and threatened by spear wielding IFP aligned indunas during a government Imbizo in KwaZulu Natal.
The IFP should be responsible for this illegal recruitment and training of the former war mongers. They raised the expectations of those people when they promise them that they will push for the re-opening of the integration processes.
This is not a pre-1994 era where self defence unit and self protection unit ran amok without any accountability. The law enforcement agencies must ensure that they don't leave any stone unturned in their investigation.
Mtshepana Tembe
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