IFP Demands Investigation after Armed Men Threaten KZN Premier Candidate

28 May 2024

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is profoundly troubled by the safety of its KZN Provincial Chairperson and Premier Candidate, Cllr Thami Ntuli, in light of recent incidents involving threats from individuals purporting to be law enforcement officers.

Yesterday afternoon, Cllr Thami Ntuli's convoy, en route from a public event called Ingezo, which took place at eSikhaleni, encountered a highly alarming situation. A suspicious unmarked Ford Ranger, occupied by four unidentified males, aggressively inserted itself into the convoy's path on the N2 towards eMpangeni/Richards Bay. Despite efforts by Cllr Ntuli's security detail to evade the vehicle, it persisted in its pursuit, eventually blocking the convoy at the intersection of John Ross Highway and the N2.

The four armed individuals, clad in police overalls and wearing balaclavas to conceal their identities, brandished rifles and forcibly detained the convoy. They pointed their weapons directly at Cllr Ntuli's security personnel and activated their rifles, posing an imminent threat to the safety of all present.

It is important to highlight that these individuals provided no identifiable markings or credentials to confirm their affiliation with the National Intelligence Unit (NIU) or any other law enforcement agency. Furthermore, their vehicle lacked any official branding or insignia.

This distressing incident raises serious questions about the conduct of law enforcement officers. Do police officers have the authority to point firearms at unthreatening ordinary citizens without just cause?

The IFP urgently calls upon law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and take immediate action to ensure the safety and security of all citizens. Our democracy cannot tolerate the abuse of power or the intimidation of political figures and their supporters.

This blatant opposition to the IFP's Premier Candidate underscores our party's growing influence and effectiveness, which we perceive as a threat to our adversaries. However, we remain resolute in our commitment to serving the people of KZN and the nation, steadfast in our mission to alleviate poverty, unemployment, and abuse of power.

Issued by Siphosethu Ngcobo, IFP National Secretary General, 28 May 2024