ANCYL to 'invade' Buthelezi's house
2011-04-15 15:28
Johannesburg - Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi claims his
house is to be "invaded" at the weekend by "the full force of
the ANCYL leadership" led by league president Julius Malema.
"My house is about to be invaded," Buthelezi said in a statement
on Friday morning.
"The ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal has issued a statement
announcing that 'a massive motorcade' will descend on my home this Sunday. I am
to 'brace' myself for 'the full force of the ANCYL leadership' led by Mr Julius
Malema himself."
Buthelezi said "the whole of Mahlabathini" had been invited to
attend to watch him "saying goodbye" to his political career.
"The Youth League has reiterated this announcement on Ukhozi FM, which
is the largest radio station in Africa," Buthelezi said.
Code of Conduct
"This statement was issued on Tuesday. The very next day, the ANC stood
before the nation at the signing of the 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.
Buthelezi said the ANCYL had claimed that he was "oppressing
people".
"In the run up to the 2009 elections, Mr Julius Malema made the foolish
statement that the ANC Youth League would come to my house, campaign in my
backyard and recruit my wife and children.
"I asked them to give me a date and a time for, as their host, I would
need to prepare refreshments.
"But this political posturing has crossed a line that turns childish
rhetoric into blatant threat.
"Their open invitation for people to come and witness the invasion of
my home on Sunday has reached the ears of hundreds of thousands of South
Africans.
"Who knows who might get it into their head to come and act on behalf
of the Youth League. This vitriol is enticing disaster."
Door-to-door campaigning
ANCYL deputy provincial secretary Siboniso Duma said the league would
descend on the Zululand for a massive door-to-door campaign on Sunday that
would make "the end to Buthelezi's era of oppression".
"We say 'forward ever, backward never' to the struggle to liberate the
people of Zululand from the chains of Buthelezi," he said.
"No amount of intimidation will equal our progressive thinking, we
remain the most militant, people driven, revolutionary youth formation in this
land."
"This weekend marks the end to Buthelezi's era of oppression."
- SAPA