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The IFP says prior to the 2009 elections, South Africans thought that
President Jacob Zuma was a Messiah who was going to bring about the
paradise after former President Mbeki had been 'thrown into the
political lake of fire. Reality has however proven him and the ANC to be
far from such. This was said today by the IFP's Deputy KwaZulu-Natal
Chairperson and Member of the Provincial Legilature Blessed Gwala when
he addressed members of the public at Phoenix in Durban today. Beginning
his address Gwala said:

"The founding fathers of democracy had very good intentions when they
founded this form of government. However, history has proven
time-and-again that - while the noble intentions of democracy are to
serve the people and ensure equality - some sections of humanity never
hesitate to use the very same democratic processes to serve their own
selfish ends. History has shown that some people, once they take over
power, tend to forget that they are in power to serve those who have
elected them. The Zimbabwean crisis is a classic example.

"Time-and-again former freedom-fighters have turned out to be the worst
oppressors once they assume government power. They do not oppress only
their opposition, but even their own comrades as well. Hence the
accuracy of Lord Acton's words that, "power tends to corrupt; and
absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely." Hw continued:

"South African Example

While South Africa has not degenerated into a strictly one-party state,
there are however glaring examples which prove that, to have a very
strong ruling party and weak opposition is dangerous for the country.
The Arms debacle which has not yet been dealt with transparently and
with satisfaction is one example. Government's nonchalant treatment of
the HIV-AIDS crisis during the period of President Thabo Mbeki;
government's indifferent approach to the issues of traditional
leadership; government's shameful treatment of Khutsong and now
Matatiele residents; Julius Malema's insolent and provocative
utterances; allegations of corruption; jobs-for-pals; are all living
examples of a government that has been corrupted by its majority to the
point of ill-treating even those who voted for them. Not to mention
failures of government entities like iThala, Eskom and others all of
whom are headed by ANC cadres appointed purely for the fact that they
are loyal to the ruling party rather than their abilities and
qualifications.

"Here in eThekwini we have recent examples where the ANC Council gave a
R300m housing contract to one company whose owner is the daughter of the
late Florence Mkhize, well-known ANC activist. Mind you, that company
was not registered with the relevant building monitoring body when it
was awarded that contract. Not only that, but the ANC Chairperson in
eThekwini the Hon. John Mchunu MPL, is alleged to have benefited with
tenders worth millions of rands from the same ANC Council.

"Mind you, BEE's objective is said to be empowering as many people as
possible. Yet the same ANC Municipality has the temerity to give to one
company a tender worth millions of rands; all this while we are in the
midst of unemployment and poverty. Why enable one person to buy a
Ferrari when you can give ten people each a chance to buy a BMW?

"How did we arrive at This Situation?

Ladies and gentlemen, those of us who work daily among the people will
tell you that there is widespread dissatisfaction among the general
public about the failure of government to deliver services. In
particular there are complaints about fraud and corruption that plague
the government from the local to the national levels. Again, when we
look around the country, we witness community protests emerging all over
against the very same ANC government.

"Yet just less than a year ago, it is the very same citizens - who are
now complaining - who were singing jubilantly, proclaiming the arrival
of a Messiah - in the person of HE Mr. Jacob Zuma - who was going to
bring about a paradise. Former President Mbeki was castigated as a
"devil" that had to be thrown into the political lake of fire.

We all remember that after Polokwane, almost the whole country thought
that, at last we had a new government which would govern with integrity.

"Ironically, the citizens decided to forget that Mr. Jacob Zuma was not
brand new "from the box." He had been the Deputy President under
President Mbeki. He had been part of all the policy conferences of the
ANC which had brought about the policies of the Mandela and Mbeki
governments.

"Above that they forgot that the post-Polokwane ANC was the same
organization that had ruled South Africa since 1994 and that Zuma was a
member of that same ANC. Voters swallowed the propaganda which placed
the whole blame on the Mbeki government as if Mbeki was not a member of
the same ANC who was ruling according to the policies of the same ANC.

"The situation we find ourselves in is the direct result of what the
voters did to themselves, by voting overwhelmingly for the ANC as if
they were voting for a new party. This situation has landed us with a
very strong ruling party and weak opposition. The fact that we are now
witnessing conflicts within the ANC-SACP-COSATU Alliance proves that
indeed people gave blank cheques to the Zuma-led ANC, each hoping that
his/her cheque would buy them what they were promised.

"Need for Opposition

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the history and background that makes it
imperative that, for democracy to flourish and achieve its objectives,
there must be room and space for strong voices of opposition. In other
words, the populace must vigilantly guard their democratic gains by
constantly monitoring those who are in power, ready to hold them
accountable for their actions.

"Obviously, the whole population cannot go to parliament. Instead, they
express their monitoring role by ensuring that there is strong
opposition which must ac as their watchdogs.

"At the last general elections, the voters of this Province gave Inkatha
Freedom Party the mandate to be the voice of opposition. The voters of
this Province charged us in the IFP with ensuring that the ruling
African National Congress and its government do not abuse the mandate
given them at the polls.

"I however prefer to refer to us as 'watchdogs' than opposition. To me
the term 'watchdog' says that as the opposition, we are the eyes, ears,
mouths and feet of millions of the residents of this Province. We are
expected to scrutinize, prod and question whatever government program or
activity especially which seems to deviate from what the people expect.
We must call government to order when they deviate from their Manifesto,
on the basis of which they campaigned for and won the support of the
voters.

"Challenge to each Community Member

Our role as opposition does not begin and end in the KwaZulu-Natal
Legislature. But it spreads to the eThekwini Municipality and every
other Municipality where we are not in power.

"But the cardinal truth is that with the numbers we have in Parliament,
we cannot be effective as the IFP unless each member of the community
plays their role. The more the support of the IFP grows, the better for
democracy and for each of us.

"Each member of the community and each member of the IFP must stay alert
daily to any sign of the abuse of power whether by a local Councillor or
ANC structure. We must never hesitate to sound the clarion call warning
communities against any form of abuse and party-political conduct which
disadvantages those who do not belong to the ruling party.

"There must be a hotline between communities, IFP structures and our
Councillors and Members of Parliament at both Provincial and National
levels. Never hesitate to contact any IFP Councilor or MP on any issue
which you feel must be brought before Council or Parliament.

"But above that, you must use branches of the IFP as centres of
political activity and discussion which touches on local issues. The
fiercest political battles must be fought and won within and among the
people outside the structures of Parliament - through the structures of
the IFP.

"Our survival and prosperity as the IFP, and our ability to continue
serving your interests, is dependent on your support in addition to our
readiness and willingness to busy ourselves with the daily needs of the
people.

"This means that as the IFP, we must be relevant to the people's needs.
It means we cannot go to the people who are worried about the fact that
they are not employed, and talk to them about whether or not gays and
lesbians should be legalized for instance. What concerns them at that
moment is the fact that they are at risk of starving and losing their
possessions because they cannot afford to buy food for their families
and to pay installments. This calls for researching your constituency to
know their needs and priorities.

"No serious party can ignore the plight of the people and then hope that
they will support its causes. When the communities of Phoenix for
instance are faced with problems of crime, lawlessness and dysfunctional
education, they must hear the IFP's voice in their midst, debating and
discussing with them the ways to solve those problems. That voice is the
branch or Constituency of the IFP!

"IFP branches, Constituencies and Districts must know that they are
political forums first and foremost where community issues are
discussed. It is therefore expected that political issues, especially as
they affect the people, should be standing items on agendas of these
organs of the party.

"In addition, IFP structures - from the branch to the national level -
Councillors and Members of Parliament must be in the habit of gathering
communities together to seek their wisdom, to take that wisdom to the
relevant structures - be it Local government, Provincial government or
National government - and to give progress reports back to the people.

"And IFP branches must never hesitate to invite Councillors, Members of
Parliament to address meetings of communities on issues that are hot
within those communities. If the situation is such that the Minister
must be convened, our structures - working with our MP's - must take the
lead in doing so.

"But, above that, we must not be afraid of being vociferous and engaging
in the politics of the street if the situation demands that, because
experience has shown that in most cases, those who are in power only
listen when thousands go out onto the streets to demonstrate their
power.

"The positive impact of engaging in the non-violent tactics was evident
in the campaign that was waged by the eThekwini District of the IFP
against the arbitrary closure of the Early Morning Market in Durban.

"Conclusion

"These are the few thoughts I wanted to share with you ladies and
gentlemen. The IFP needs your support. Democracy calls on you to give
strength to the IFP in its role as the opposition.

"Believe me when I say that; if you want a healthy democracy in this
country; if you want to avoid a slide towards a one-party state; if you
want power to stop the ANC's abuse of power, to stop the abuse of the
tender system, to stop fraud and corruption; then give support to the
IFP. We have a track record honesty. We have a leader who is the
example of trustworthiness. The IFP holds the moral compass in
KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa."