The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) President Velenkosini Hlabisa on Friday said any suggestion of political violence must be dealt with to ensure that it does not mar a free and fair election.

Hlabisa was addressing the media on the KwaCeza incident and ensuing accusations, where he called on KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube to desist from “peddling baseless narratives” about the IFP.

He called for an investigation into the alleged assault of African National Congress (ANC) supporters at KwaCeza in Nongoma, where President Cyril Ramaphosa and the AmaZulu King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini attended the commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the death King Dinuzulu ka Cetshwayo.

The ANC Women’s League and other ANC members had issued statements claiming that IFP members had attacked ANC members at the event.

In response, Hlabisa said he requested information from the ANC on who the alleged IFP members were and in what way they were identified as IFP members, as this was not an IFP event, but a government event, and attendees were not wearing IFP regalia.

He highlighted that to date the information has still not been provided.

Yet the ANC has pressed on with the narrative of alleged IFP violence against their members, he added.

“It is quite one thing for one political party to accuse another; but it is extremely dangerous and irresponsible when those accusations are echoed by the head of government without substantiation,” Hlabisa said.

In contrast, IFP deputy President Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi denied that there are tensions between the IFP and the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal.

Speaking exclusively with Polity, Buthelezi said there is no evidence pointing to tensions and violence among the two parties, saying the only thing that many people can begin to refer to is the KwaCeza incident, which he said it has nothing to do with ANC or IFP. 

Meanwhile, Hlabisa warned that at this time of “heightened political sensitivity”, accusations should not be made lightly.

“If we are to protect the integrity of this election and ensure that it is indeed free and fair, a higher level of political maturity is required. The electorate deserves better than mud-slinging,” he said.

Hlabisa pointed out that Ramaphosa himself expressed concern over the incident and made a public statement that the ANC and IFP would meet to discuss this violence, cementing the “unfounded accusation” that the IFP was responsible.

He noted that Ramaphosa did not approach him to request a meeting and that he had received a letter on Wednesday from the Provincial Secretary of the ANC, purporting to seek what he called “peace talks” with the IFP.

“I indicated to him that I would respond once I had given the matter some thought. After careful consideration yesterday, 21 March 2024, I dispatched a letter to the President of the ANC, sharing how best we can deal with the KwaCeza incident as he also commented about it, in public. I requested that our parties nominate three members of our respective NECs and these three aside members will jointly facilitate the engagement of our PECs in KZN, to ensure that we deliver the sustainable and desired result. We are now awaiting the response from the ANC President,” said Hlabisa.