Buthelezi 'intolerant' - ANC Youth League

ANC Youth League leaders in KwaZulu-Natal vowed yesterday they would return to campaign at KwaPhindangene, the homestead of IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

At a media briefing yesterday, the youth leaders labelled Buthelezi as "intolerant".

ANCYL provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo said: "We will go back there on April 30. We want to clarify that it is not the police who stopped us from entering Gatsha's village, but rather it was our own decision as the leadership of the youth league.

"We felt it was best to protect the progressive members of our movement than to expose them to the IFP warlords who know nothing but to worship Buthelezi as their mini-God."

He said they were not going to retreat.

"We will go back to eNkonjeni, Mahlabathini and KwaPhindangene, and this time around we will be well prepared in such a way that we will organise tow trucks to remove IFP vehicles that they used to block us from entering on Sunday," Mtolo said.

Provincial electoral officer Mawethu Mosery said the incident was the first in the province that demonstrated the high levels of intolerance.

He said the matter was with the police because everything happened in full view of the officers.

"These kinds of incidents must be avoided, respect and tolerance is required by all political parties.

"The matter is above us when leaders fail to control their followers. The IFP supporters had violated the electoral code of conduct, which stipulates that nobody should "prevent any persons from gaining reasonable access to voters, whether in a private or public place", said Mosery.

Mosery said they had not yet received any complaint about the incident from any party, despite the ANCYL confirming that they had lodged a complaint with the IEC.

The incident raised tension in the area for hours, forcing the police to form a barricade to prevent confrontation between the political foes.