Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi yesterday reiterated that today’s national elections would not be free and fair.

Speaking to the Daily News from his office in Ulundi last night, Buthelezi said that he was not happy about the clashes between his party and the ANC, stating that the ruling party had constantly intimidated their members by using government resources such as the police.

“I have also come to understand that guns which the police claimed they found in some of our members’ homes recently, were actually part of an exhibition collection.

“If the police were really concerned about such things, why did they not start their operation earlier? Why did they wait until election time?” he asked.

Buthelezi said he could not say what his expectations were for today because everything would be determined by the actual elections.

“We have done everything we could to canvass, and all we can do now is wait for the results.

“What I can say is that I am happy that there are monitors to observe the elections and we really appreciate that,” he said.

Worried

Despite Buthelezi being worried about the fairness of today’s elections, hundreds of IFP supporters around Ulundi centre hooted in a motorcade just outside the Garden Court Hotel, while others stood around waving IFP flags, chanted victory songs claiming they were going to win the province.

About 79 000 voters are expected to vote in Ulundi and 75 000 are expected to place their marks in Nongoma – both areas are considered IFP strongholds and have been identified as hot spots by police and electoral officials.

About 200 voting stations have been set up between the two areas.

Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Cele said that they had taken the necessary precautions with 270 uniformed policemen, 60 National Intervention Unit members and 40 SANDF soldiers in Nongoma, while in Ulundi there were 200 uniformed police, 40 NIU members and 40 SANDF members.

There were also two helicopters which would assist in emergencies.