Malema, take it back

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Article by: Sapa

Published: 06 Feb 2009

Malema, take it back - Buthelezi

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema should withdraw his "politically ill-advised outburst" or he will be referred to the SA Human Rights Commission, IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi said on Thursday.

"The IFP calls on Mr Malema to be a responsible leader and withdraw this politically ill-advised outburst with immediate effect to avoid heightening tensions and confrontation, a few months before the 2009 elections," he said in a statement.

Buthelezi was responding to comments made by Malema in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

"If Mr Malema fails to do this we will have no option but to refer his statements to the Human Rights Commission for action."

Malema told a crowd of African National Congress supporters that the ANC would continue campaigning in Inkatha Freedom Party strongholds even in the face of the attacks it had sustained in Nongoma, an IFP stronghold, over the weekend.

"We are not afraid of the IFP. We must go back to Nongoma and campaign. We must campaign everywhere in KwaZulu even at the backyard of Mangosuthu Buthelezi's backyard," said Malema.

Buthelezi condemned Malema's statements as "derogatory" and "contrary to the tenor in which we, as political opponents, contest elections".

"I also believe this irresponsible political rhetoric does not bode well for the promotion of the spirit of peaceful coexistence and reconciliation between the ANC and the IFP to which the IFP is committed," Buthelezi said.

The IFP leader added that his party was not fuelling the political intolerance which emerged in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend, saying the ANC made these allegations as an "election strategy".

"We see this time and time again as we head closer to national and provincial elections, the ANC blames the IFP for all sorts of untruths as part of their election strategy.

"... we unequivocally condemn the most recent incidents at Nongoma.

"The alleged clashes between ANC and IFP supporters were in fact clashes between IFP supporters and the police who brutalised the public without provocation at the instruction of MEC for community safety and liaison Mr Bheki Cele," he said.

Buthelezi said a "culture of total disrespect" for political opponents had taken root in the ANC and the party was "deliberately heightening political temperatures" by holding rallies close to events being held by opposition parties.

"The ANC cries foul in the media, when in fact, they are the ones who are fuelling conflict with senseless statements like these.

"I am afraid that this outburst by Mr Malema once again proves that, as a country, we are now at a moral crossroads," he said.

Buthelezi said previously South African leaders were advocates of the values of liberation, democracy and freedom.

"Today, the ANC presents us with leaders such as Julius Malema whose violent rhetoric, total disrespect for our Constitution and our collective history can only be considered detrimental to our young democracy."