IFP: TRADITIONAL LEADERS ELECTION RESULTS NO EXPRESSION OF DEMOCRACY

In a statement issued today in reaction to the election results of the Local Houses of Traditional Leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, Inkatha Freedom Party said the results were not an expression of a fair democratic process. It said they were rather part of a broader campaign aimed at ensuring that Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi is wiped off the political map of South Africa.

IFP Deputy National Spokesperson Joshua Mazibuko said: "While the results may appear, on the surface, to be an expression of a fair democratic process, we know that a lot of behind-the-scenes gerrymandering took place prior to the elections to ensure that a particular side would win the day. The politics of the cheque-book played a decisive role to win many Amakhosi over to the ANC-aligned camp.

"In fact, the adulteration of democracy through the politics of the cheque-book is a wide-spread phenomenon in the South African body politic, about which even some ANC leaders have complained in relation to their internal processes.

"There can also be no doubt that the influence of CONTRALESA was great. And as it is known, CONTRALESA is an ANC-project. Since the ANC controls vast financial resources, it is not far-fetched to conclude that CONTRALESA-aligned Traditional leaders had financial and other forms of support for the express purpose of unseating those Amakhosi known not to be aligned to it. Without any doubt, the Prince was the number one target among the Amakhosi who had to be unseated."

"As the IFP we are not shaken by these results. We do not take them as any vote of no-confidence in the leadership of our President. Nor can they succeed to negate his track record of waging unceasing struggles to preserve the Monarchy and the institution of traditional leadership in general."

Statement issued by Mr M. Joshua Mazibuko, IFP Deputy National Spokesperson, July 11 2012

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