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CALL TO REMOVE ANC

LOYAL: Inkatha Freedom Party members during the launch of the party's election manifesto at Safa Stadium in Pimville, Soweto, yesterday. 25/01/2009. Pic. Bafana Mahlangu. © Sowetan.
LOYAL: Inkatha Freedom Party members during the launch of the party's election manifesto at Safa Stadium in Pimville, Soweto, yesterday. 25/01/2009. Pic. Bafana Mahlangu. © Sowetan.

Kingdom Mabuza

Kingdom Mabuza

Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi has made a passionate plea to South Africans to punish the ANC by removing it from power for its "empty promises".

Speaking at Safa Stadium, in Pimville, Soweto, during the launch of the IFP manifesto yesterday, Buthelezi said should South Africans fail to dislodge the ANC from power, people would have failed to be responsible citizens.

He said this year's elections were not about policies, but about liberating people from the yoke of a political elite which had perceived governance as making promises.

"We are launching our manifesto to underpin our pledge to turn the page from empty promises to commitment.

"Whether from the opposition benches or in the seat of government, the IFP and myself can be trusted and relied upon to raise our forceful voice," Buthelezi said.

Local residents lined up the streets and ululated in admiration as chanting amabutho marched into the packed stadium.

The friendly atmosphere on the streets leading up to the stadium was in stark contrast to the 1990s hostilities between residents and IFP supporters, who were mostly hostel dwellers.

The IFP manifesto promises to create jobs through maximising economic growth, combating poverty, depoliticising appointment to the bench and the police force to restore law and order.

The party promised to radically review outcomes-based education, which it said had failed the nation outright to improve learning.

It further said the country needed a diversified education system that properly catered for vocational, technical and academic needs.

The IFP would also adopt a radical departure from the present "genocidal HIV and Aids practice" and declare HIV-Aids a national crisis.

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