The African National Congress (ANC) has noted incidents of violence and intimidation in the run-up to the 2009 elections, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.

The ANC would like to reiterate its position on political tolerance and multiparty democracy as enshrined in the Constitution. We believe in freedom of speech, press and association.

We would like to deplore in the strongest terms today's (Sunday, 1 February 2009) incidents of political intolerance displayed by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters and members in KwaZulu-Natal.

The ANC would like to place on record that an IFP rally was today held at Mona, despite the organisation not having obtained permission from iNkosi. In the contrary, the ANC had permission to hold the rally. To avoid conflict with the IFP, the ANC moved to a site - about six kilometres away.

This morning ANC posters at kwaNongoma were ripped off from poles. IFP supporters and members who marched on the streets, stopped buses carrying ANC members, blocked streets until police were forced to use stun grenades.

The ANC calls on all political parties not to use intimidation and violence in the run-up to the elections. Not only is this undemocratic, but flies in the face of the Constitution which we have so much fought for.

We are pleased to report that despite the violence and intimidation, the ANC rally was a huge success compared to the IFP meeting attended by a small crowd. Incidents like the shooting at the ANC office, shooting of the car transporting ANC Member of Parliament (MP) Prince Zebulon Zulu, which led to his son and daughter-in-law sustaining serious injuries, is something that all South Africans have to deplore. This form of dangerous desperation to seek voter attention is something the ANC has not done and will not do.

The ANC would also like to put on record that seven buses carrying ANC members were stoned by IFP members and supporters, resulting in one ANC members sustaining injuries and losing teeth. Cars were also attacked with knobkerries and chiefs receiving death threats. Our members never retaliated and no single IFP vehicle was attacked. The matter has been reported to the police and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

As the ruling party with a solid legacy and history in championing the freedom of South Africa from apartheid, we did not have to use violence or intimidation in winning the past successive elections by an overwhelming majority, with the first having been held in 1994. We have never used violence in the past and do not need to do so in the 2009 elections.

Statement issued by African National Congress spokesperson, Carl Niehaus, February 1 2009