KZN ANC denies assassination plot against Buthelezi

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday denied being involved in a plot to assassinate Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

"The PEC [provincial executive committee] wants to state categorically... that the allegations are baseless and mind-boggling," it said in a statement.

"The PEC urges the IFP leadership to report the matter to the relevant authorities for proper investigation."

It warned the IFP that making such allegations could "exacerbate the emerging conflicts in the province".

"We are convinced that the IFP wants to solicit sympathy from the general public through unfounded allegations," the branch said.

"The allegations were first made by Buthelezi in the National Assembly and the IFP leader in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, Blessed Gwala, continues to make the allegations in the provincial legislature."

Gwala told press agency AFP on Friday that his party had unearthed a plot to assassinate Buthelezi.

"There is a plot to assassinate Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi from the higher echelons of the country, including poisoning him," Gwala told AFP.

He claimed authorities had reduced security around Buthelezi, leaving him with two unarmed policemen who did not have a car.

"He has been stripped of his security so that he will vulnerable, so that when attacks come it will be easy to assassinate him," Gwala said.

"The grand plan is clear: It's to remove IFP from the political radar so that they [the African National Congress] will be a unitary state in this country."