By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) denied political assassination allegations made by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) earlier today.
The EFF released a statement on Tuesday, saying that the police notified the party about the alleged plot by an “IFP senior leader” on its Secretary General Marshall Dlamini.
The party stated that “reliable intelligence reports illustrate that senior leaders of the IFP believe that our secretary-general is solely responsible for the collective decision we took to initiate motions of no confidence”.
The party added that it was opposed to violence and that it had taken the report seriously due to past political assassinations in KwaZulu-Natal.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the South African Police Service was not aware of any briefing to the EFF.
“In the main, we do not discuss the safety, security and threat assessments of individuals in the public domain.”
On Sunday, EFF leader Julius Malema announced that the party would cut ties with the IFP due to its “arrogant and entitled posture”.
At a press briefing, he said the EFF would support all motions of no confidence in all IFP mayors in municipalities where the party previously voted with them.
He said the party would respect the IFP’s decision not to support the establishment of EFF governments in the various KwaZulu-Natal municipalities, “hence our logical and rational decision to vote out IFP governments wherever we previously voted with them”.
The collapse of the pact has left several municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal vulnerable to a takeover by the ANC with the help of the EFF and the National Freedom Party.
On Wednesday, the Nongoma local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal is due to hear a vote of no confidence against mayor Albert Mncwango. One of the parties that tabled the motion is the ANC.
Hitting back, the IFP denied the charges levelled by its former coalition partner, saying it was a smear campaign.
In a statement by IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa on Tuesday afternoon, the party described the EFF’s claims as “vile misinformation”.
Hlengwa said the allegations were made without evidence and The IFP is demanding a police investigation.
The IFP added that Minister of Police Bheki Cele and the State Security Agency should clarify the allegation against it.