Inkatha Freedom Party Rejects Cyril Ramaphosa’s Call for Truce Between IFP and ANC

• The Inkatha Freedom Party has turned down President Cyril Ramaphosa's call for a truce between the IFP and the African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal
• This was after tensions between the two parties escalated when the ANC's chairperson, Siboniso Duma, took the mic from the Zulu prime minister, Thuasizwe Buthelezi, who is also an IFP member
• The IFP spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, spoke to Briefly News about the incident
• The IFP also accused the ANC of planning to disrupt IFP campaign activities for the upcoming general elections

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, has covered policy changes, the State of the Nation Address, politician-related news and elections at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News for over seven years. Do you have a hard news story you would like to share? Email tebogo.mokwena@briefly.co.za with CA in the subject line.

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KWAZULU-NATAL – The Inkatha Freedom Part rejected President Cyril Ramaphosa's call for a truce between them and the African National Congress in the KwaZulu-Natal province. This was after the tension between them was made worse when Siboniso Duma, the ANC's chairperson in the province, disrupted the Zulu prime minister, Thulasizwe Buthelezi.

IFP accuses ANC of planning disruption

According to The South African, the IFP's national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, said the party was uninterested in the meeting as they were not involved in violence. Hlengwa remarked that the ANC would have to explain why they allegedly held a meeting on 2 March and planned to disrupt the IFP's campaigning in the province.

He also called on Duma to apologise to King Misuzulu kaZwelethini and the Zulu nation for his conduct when he clashed with Buthelezi at the King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo Commemoration Event, which took place on 16 March.

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IFP speaks to Briefly News

When contacted for comment by Briefly News, the spokesperson of the IFP did not have anything to add above what the party’s president, Velenkosi Hlabisa, addressed in his speech. In the speech, he said that the IFP is ready to engage with the ANC through both parties' National Executive Committees. He also said the IFP is committed to peace and stability and that any notion of political violence must be dealt with.

South Africans have different views

Netizens commenting on Facebook held different perspectives on the IFP's refusal to engage the ANC.

Issa Qwabe said:

"The IFP must accept that it will only rule in one province forever. No ambition at all."

Phillipe Sydney Lionnet said:

"ANC must accept that it will disappear from KZN soon. Look at what Kaunda did to eThekwini Municipality. It was destroyed beyond repair."

Phindile Mpande said:

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"When there are conflicts, and one suggests that the conflict must stop, you come to the table and have a conversation with that person on how to end the conflict."

Siboniso Duma apologises to Ramaphosa and Misizulu

In a similar article, Briefly News reported that Duma apologised to King Misuzulu and Ramaphosa for his conduct.

Duma acknowledged that what happened between him and Buthelezi was not supposed to happen, especially in the presence of the two leaders.

South Africans applauded him for his apology and praised him for humbling himself enough to apologise.

Source: Briefly News