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Inkatha Freedom Party has reacted angrily to the statement attributed to
the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Social Development, Mr. Meshack Hadebe that he
was prevented by an IFP Councillor from building a house he had promised
one Magwaza family last year. According to the report in yesterday's
Sowetan newspaper, Hadebe pledged to Jabulile Magwaza's family in
February last year that he would "build a proper house for them since
the one they were living in was on the verge of collapse. But a year
later life has not changed for the family." On being questioned about
his failure to fulfill his promise, Hadebe claimed that he was prevented
by the IFP Ward Councillor from building the house. Reacting to Hadebe's
accusations, the Leader of the Official Opposition, IFP MPL Dr
Bonginkosi Buthelezi said:

"It is more than disgraceful for a leader of Hadebe's calibre to utter
blatant lies. As he knows himself, no IFP Ward Councillor ever prevented
him from building the Magwaza family house. If he was prevented by the
said Councillor and was so concerned with the plight of the family, why
did he keep quiet and not raise the matter with IFP leaders in
Pietermaritzburg or in the Legislature? And, why has he failed to name
that Councillor?

"The truth of the matter is that, as in many similar cases, Hadebe
unscrupulously used the plight of the Magwaza family to project himself
and the ANC as political messiahs and thus buy cheap support and votes
for his party since electioneering had already begun by that time? After
the elections the Magwaza's - just like many more innocent hoodwinked
voters - were forgotten.

"If Hadebe disputes our version, let him come with the IFP leadership to
Mpumuza so that we collectively consult with all who were part of that
initiative with a view to unearthing the truth. As the IFP we are ready
to go with him to the area and prepared to apologize should his version
be true."