Buthelezi feared 'bloodbath'

2010-07-23 21:30

Cape Town - Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party has strongly defended his party's decision to postpone the elective national congress called for this weekend, by saying it was done to save lives.

Writing in his weekly online newsletter, Buthelezi quoted Bheki Cele, the national commissioner of police, as saying if the congress were held now there would be a bloodbath.

"This province bears the memory of a low intensity black-on-black civil war," the IFP leader reminded his readers.

"We feel the threat of tensions more keenly and are more aware of the potential for violence in any situation. We are also more vigilant about defusing tensions and averting possible bloodshed. That is our legacy. Some may understand; others won't.

Responsibility to members

"But there is no way that the IFP, in good conscience, could have held its annual general conference this weekend as the reports of violence, intimidation and murder kept coming in.

"We have a responsibility towards our members to keep them safe wherever they gather. This responsibility carries more weight than a few adverse opinions about our decision to postpone the conference."

Buthelezi complained sharply about political analysts and commentators who attribute the cancellation of the conference to fears that the leadership faces defeat from political forces within the party rallying behind the party chair Zanele Magwaza- Msibi.

"I cannot help but wonder how any political analyst or commentator who remembers the internecine war of the eighties could overlook the obvious and attribute all manner of ulterior motives to our postponement of conference," Buthelezi said.

Analysis and commentary

"Are these so-called experts really analysts, or are they political enemies? I cannot think who else would put spin on the attempt to save lives."

He added that a perception is growing "that we are taking desperate measures, but our motives are becoming lost is a morass of political analysis and commentary.

"We have been accused of trying to cling to leadership positions, trying to diminish our national chairperson's chances of being nominated, trying to make conference non-elective and trying to silence democratic debate.

"I have even been accused of being a violent man intent on intimidating my opponents."

- I-Net Bridge (News24)