ANC, IFP tensions rising
2004-01-27 09:42
Durban - As the elections draw near, tensions between the ANC and IFP seem to be rising in KwaZulu-Natal.
An exchange of gunfire and stone throwing was reported on Sunday night at Gamalakhe Township on the south coast when IFP supporters marched through the ANC-stronghold township.
IFP-aligned Hibiscus Coast Mayor Mntomuhle Khawula, who was among the marchers, had to flee to safety during the battle.
On Monday morning, pandemonium broke out at the home affairs offices in Pietermaritzburg when three busloads of IFP supporters stormed into the offices to register for their IDs.
Applicants who were already queueing were pushed aside by the crowd. A witness said the crowd's arrival disrupted the proceedings, with some staff members leaving their desks fearing they would be attacked. Local ANC leader Shakes Cele, accompanied by a group of party members, intervened to ensure that other customers at the offices were not inconvenienced.
There was an exchange of words between the ANC and IFP members and police were called in to monitor the potentially explosive situation.
Midlands region IFP leader David Ntombela said there was no intention to harm anyone but the crowds came to register for IDs.
He accused the Home Affairs Department of giving "newly issued IDs to municipal workers so that they will distribute them through councillors" to their rightful owners.
He said this led to an "irregular situation" in Wilgerfontein and kwaPata at the weekend where some people arrived at the polling station with up to nine IDs to register to vote.
He complained that IFP party agents were chased away from Wilgerfontein voting station. "I had to intervene there and I was told that some people carried up to nine IDs to register during the absence of our agents from the station."
Ntombela said political parties should not be given access to people's IDs as this could result in underhand practices.
DA councillor Sizwe Mchunu, who also arrived at the offices, criticised the ANC for accepting IDs on behalf of applicants.
Several attempts to reach Cele and acting director of the Home Affairs office, Grant Young, for comment were unsuccessful.
Independent Electoral Commission co-ordinator Blessing Dlamini said the law does not allow a person to register on behalf of someone else.
He said about 100 applications were put aside because some were suspected of having been made by people who carried more than one ID claiming that owners were sick.
The IEC will decide whether to visit those people at their homes if they are, indeed, sick.