IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi has criticised the ANC's "pro-poor" policies, saying they have widened poverty in the country.

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi has criticised the ANC's "pro-poor" policies, saying they have widened poverty in the country.

Addressing IFP supporters in Newcastle, northern KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, Buthelezi said: "The ANC's pro-poor policies, underpinned by the vision of a crony society and centralised management of the state, have curtailed South Africa's economic growth, bred corruption and widened poverty. Instead of creating opportunity, the ANC has concentrated more power in the hands of loyal ANC cadres. As a result, our state institutions now serve the interests of the ruling party rather than all the people. The by-product of centralisation and cronyism is rampant corruption."

Buthelezi said one glaring instance of mismanagement and corruption hampering development in KwaZulu-Natal is the ANC's handling of Ithala.

"Whereas the erstwhile KwaZulu government allocated development finance via Ithala to those who genuinely cared about development, today Ithala's assets are being pillaged by MECs, their relatives and civil servants affiliated to the ANC," he said. - Canaan Mdletshe