Violence flares at KZN rally

2004-02-08 21:50

Estcourt - The African National Congress (ANC) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) have blamed one another for a shooting at a political rally in Wembisi township, near Estcourt, in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands on Sunday.

The IFP said three of its supporters were injured in the shooting which took place during the final hour of a party rally in the township.

Spokesperson Blessed Gwala said the gunmen were wearing ANC t-shirts.

ANC provincial spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said he had received a report that his party had booked a hall for a meeting, but that the IFP had taken it over at the eleventh hour and that IFP supporters had started shooting at random.

Both parties condemned the actions.

"The IFP calls for an immediate cessation of violence by supporters of the ANC. The ANC often complains about political interference, but here their supporters are indulging in gratuitous and mindless acts of violence," the IFP's Gwala said in a statement.

Mthimkhulu said: "We would like police to take tough stands on people causing this tension, whatever their party."

Midlands police spokesperson Captain Joshua Gwala said the injured had been taken to hospital.

However, he could not confirm how many people were injured nor whether the shooting had taken place at a political rally.

- SAPA