African National Congress Youth League response to the IFP Youth Brigade Militia
5 February 2009
The African National Congress Youth League has noted the threats of the Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade concerning our commitment to campaign everywhere in South Africa, including in Nongoma. The African National Congress has fought for freedom in South Africa, which allows all political parties to campaign everywhere without fear and intimidation.
On Tuesday, the 4th of February 2009, the ANC YL contacted (Pat Lebenya—IFP YB Acting President) and requested a meeting with the IFP Youth Brigade, with the aim of jointly condemning and discouraging political violence and intolerance during the election period. The ANC YL is still waiting for a confirmation of the meeting date, but extremely concerned and disturbed by the threats used by the IFP to engage with us.
No amount of intimidation will prevent us from campaigning everywhere in South Africa, including in Nongoma and every household in all the communities we visit. If we visit the households of leaders of opposition parties, we will freely canvass for their votes and persuade them to vote for the African National Congress.
The ANC YL will never be intimidated by former agents of apartheid violence, and will campaign in all communities. The hands of African National Congress Youth League and the ANC are clean, and not tainted with blood of innocent people. The ANC YL will write to the Human Rights Commission to report the incitement of violence by the IFP YB. The strength of political parties should be tested on the number of voters they attract, not the amount of violence they threaten to unleash on political opponents.
Released by the African National Congress Youth League
Contact Floyd Shivambu, ANC YL National Spokesperson @ 0828199474
http://70.84.171.10/~etools/anc/youth/display.php?include=docs/pr/2009/pr0205.html