Durban — The organisers of the march against claims of corruption in Abaqulusi Local Municipality have demanded an apology from deputy mayor Mandla Mazibuko for allegedly calling them baboons.
During the march which brought the northern KwaZulu-Natal town of Vryheid to a grinding halt last week, the IFP also organised a counter-march where the deputy mayor allegedly referred to those marching against the municipality as baboons.
This sparked anger among residents and drew widespread condemnation by opposition parties in the municipality, including the DA which is a coalition partner with the IFP.
Lindo Xulu, one of the march organisers, told the Daily News on Tuesday that he has instructed his lawyers to write a letter to the deputy mayor demanding that he make a public apology by Wednesday or face court action.
Xulu said the IFP organised an illegal march and insulted the residents who were marching.
The letter signed by Maphike Attorneys read: The purpose of the letter is to address the serious and inflammatory statement by you, at the IFP Gathering, that our clients are “izimfene” directly translated “baboons”.
In the video clip, a voice, purportedly that of the deputy mayor, is heard saying:
“The mayor had wanted to come and greet you but we refused to allow him to greet you in front of the baboons that were here”.
The attorneys said these utterances were made during his client’s rightful exercising of their rights to participate in a legal gathering, for which approval was obtained in accordance with The Regulation of Gathering Act of 1993, relating to allegations of poor governance of the municipality and the various accusations of mismanagement of funds and corruption levelled against the mayor, Mncedisi Maphisa.
“The statement is not only serious and/or inflammatory but offensive and insulting to our clients to the extent that it directly affects the dignity of our clients. Your conduct was not only disingenuous but furthermore embarrassing, demeaning and disrespectful to our clients. As a result of the above, our clients, therefore, demands a retraction and a written apology on the Inkatha Freedom Party website, social media platforms as well as your social media platforms as follows:
“I wish to unconditionally and unreservedly tender my apology to the community of Bhekuzulu Location – Abaqulusi Local Municipality Vryheid for my utterances that the community members, in exercising their right to protest, were baboons. Not only is my statement offensive and insulting but disrespectful and demeaning to the community of Vryheid.”
The letter demanded that the apology should be done no later than 5pm on Wednesday, October 19. The letter concluded by reminding the deputy mayor that his clients’ rights were reserved.
Attempts to get the deputy mayor to confirm whether he has received the letter were unsuccessful.
IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the letter has not reached the IFP’s office.
Daily News