Celani Sikhakhane
The IFP is facing racism accusations after one of its senior leaders was accused of making derogatory remarks about Indian leaders.
Jozini Mayor Naye Mathe allegedly raised concerns in one of the party meetings. He is said to have complained about Indians in the party being given critical positions in municipalities run by the IFP while they don’t have any mass support there.
A source revealed that Mathe raised this question because he was angered by the IFP deployment committee’s proposal for the Reverend Tim Moodley to be the mayor of the uMkhanyakude District Municipality.
“He even questioned why the IFP president is prioritising Moodley over black councillors because he does not have any constituency or branch that he belongs to,” said the source.
“We don’t know how the party will feel about this because most Indian leaders are very loyal to the senior leaders because of their financial power.
“They always support the party with their money, especially during elections, and at a time when the party had no municipality to fund its activities,” the source said.
Mathe was appointed at a very chaotic council meeting where some IFP and ANC councillors were plotting against him, preferring an EFF councillor as Jozini mayor.
IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa told Scrolla.Africa that it would be unfortunate if Mathe uttered such racist remarks.
“We haven’t received anything with regards to the matter. We just heard it from you for the first time. But if it comes to our attention we will follow due process to look at the matter,” said Hlengwa.
This is not the first time the IFP has faced such allegations.
In 2009 there were leaders from Zululand who revolted against Indians who were hoping to make it onto the list of those going to the national parliament and the provincial legislature.
This happened during the era of retired secretary general the Reverend Musa Zondi and former national chair Zanele KwaMagwaza Msibi.
Mathe called the allegations of racism cheap politics.
“In the IFP, people are being deployed according to their skills, not race,” said Mathe.
