Johnathan Paoli
The Premier of Kwa-Zulu Natal Nomusa Dube-Ncube has confirmed that at least 16 people have been injured in a recent clash between the ANC and the IFP during a historical commemoration over the weekend.
The IFP, which is the provincial opposition in KwaZulu Natal has accused the ANC of showing disrespect to the Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini during the commemoration of the historical King Dinizulu on Saturday in kwaNongoma.
During the event, the ANC provincial chair Siboniso Duma abruptly interrupted the traditional Zulu Prime Minister Buthelezi as he spoke and removed the microphone.
There was an uproar from amabutho when this happened but the tensions escalated between the ANC and IFP supporters afterwards, with reports of women and children being among those injured during the altercation after the event.
Drama at King Cetshwayo’s 110th Commemoration Service in KwaZulu Natal
It is reported that a 37-year-old woman was among those who were severely beaten and she suffered head injuries.
Dube-Ncube called for order in the province and pleaded with political parties and specifically their supporters to practice tolerance towards each other.
“I spoke to the King, and he was also deeply concerned about the senseless attacks on innocent members of the community who were severely beaten,” she said.
The Premier called the incident a setback and said that it was extremely embarrassing for the province.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for calm ahead of the elections and reiterated the party’s stance against violence and said that the elections needed to be run effectively, without the threat of violence in order to assist the people in exercising their right to vote without any fear.
“There is no place for violence in the democratic South Africa that we have become and we call on all South Africans to be totally against violence and should not participate in any violent activities. We call on leaders of various political parties to call on their members to desist from using violence including articulating violent statements,” Ramaphosa said.
Tensions between the two parties remain high, in light of the recent growth of the IFP after the by-elections, as well as the declining support KZN ANC has experienced after the launch of former president Jacob Zuma’s MK party.
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