IFP leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, has reiterated his stance on praising the “real heroes” in Phoenix, in Durban, for defending their community during the July unrest.
However, Buthelezi also slammed the “vigilantes” who took matters into their own hands, resulting in the death of 36 people during the same period.
“You were doing here what I was doing with IFP leaders in my own community in Ulundi. You were protecting homes and protecting businesses. You were staying up through the night, patrolling the streets and ensuring that looters did not run rampant. All of this was being done in close co-operation with law enforcement, and within the bounds of the law,” said Buthelezi.
“The dichotomy between racists and heroes is wrong. Heroes are not people who take the law into their own hands. Real heroes unite communities. Real heroes restore peace.”
IFP leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
He was addressing the crowd during the IFP’s community engagement session with Phoenix residents on Monday.
“I thanked you then, and I thank you now, because I know that countless citizens stood up for law and order. Because of you, livelihoods were protected and lives were saved,” Buthelezi said.
His visit comes on the back of the controversial and Democratic Alliance’s posters that were written, “The ANC called you racists” and “The DA calls you heroes”.
The DA has since taken the posters down and issued a public apology. The ANC, however, said it would be reporting the DA to the South African Human Rights Commission for the “insensitive” posters.
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Buthelezi said there was an ongoing debate about the heroes and racists in the area.
“The dichotomy between racists and heroes is wrong. Heroes are not people who take the law into their own hands. Real heroes unite communities. Real heroes restore peace. And within the communities of Phoenix, KwaMashu, Chatsworth, Bambhai and elsewhere, there are millions of real heroes,” he said.
Buthelezi spoke about his work in the Indian communities during apartheid and his commitment to non-racialism. He slammed “irresponsible” politicians trying to sow divisions between the black and Indian communities for political gain.
“We cannot allow racists, whether black racists, Indian racists or white racists to divide us and destroy our shared future,” said Buthelezi.
