IFP and National Freedom Party leaders have been praised for restoring calm to the T-section of Umlazi.
|||IFP and National Freedom Party leaders were praised on Tuesday for restoring calm to the violence-torn T-section of Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal.
“What has been impressive is the swift manner in which leaders of the two parties responded by coming to the area and urging for calm from their members,” safety and community liaison MEC Willies Mchunu said.
“We come from a bad history of violence in KZN, but what we want is to preach the message of co-existence, and the leaders of the two parties have been instrumental in spreading such a message.”
According to reports, violence erupted in the area, south of Durban, when NFP supporter Thandeka Cele was assaulted by a man for wearing pants about a fortnight ago. When the man was arrested, his friends organised a protest march which resulted in clashes between the two parties.
Two people have since died, houses were torched and other people were arrested for public violence.
IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi and ANC provincial chairman Zweli Mkhize visited the area and condemned the violence. Police maintained a heavy presence in the area. – Sapa