STATEMENT BY PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI ON RECENT MEDIA ALLEGATIONS

I have taken note of the media allegations pertaining to my family and my recent meeting with President Jacob Zuma.

I believe that it is opportunistic for the media to link the recent developments in the Inkatha Freedom Party, which I lead, with my personal life or my working relationship with President Zuma.

Regarding the media reports of my grandson's convinction for theft of a licensed firearm, I wish to state that this is a private family matter which is receiving attention from all those whom it concerns. There a no family division or feud as Mr Mandla Zulu of the City Press alleges. These allegations are false and are a continuation of the long-standing vendetta Mr Zulu has been waging against me.

As far as my meeting with President Zuma is concerned, it was a confidential discussion and I am therefore not prepared to publicise the content of the meeting in question.

Statement issued by the Inkatha Freedom Party, July 25 2010

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