UPDATE: Protest leader flees Vryheid after receiving death threats

Smangaliso Zwane (Smanga), the leader of the illegal protest that took place last week, has fled Vryheid in fear of his life.

In a telephonic interview with the Vryheid Herald this afternoon, Smanga said he had been receiving threatening phone calls from anonymous numbers ever since the protest.

“They are saying that I must stop what I am doing before my life vanishes into thin air,” Smanga confided. “I am afraid. Currently, I am not in Vryheid. I cannot be in Vryheid because they will kill me. I am afraid for my life, but I can’t be quiet about things like nepotism or corruption.

“I think that there is a belief that if I am dead, this whole thing will stop, but this is not true. They can take my life but they cannot take my views… And a lot of people agree with my views and have adopted the same beliefs as me.”

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Fear Mounts As Residents Anticipate More #VryheidViolentProtests

Despite having had his membership from the IFP suspended, Smanga insists that he believes in the constitution, the vision and the values of the IFP enough to fight for his position in the IFP in court if need be.

We asked Smanga about why he would embarrass the party he so passionately supports by marching against its members.

“I have heard the rumours that the march that was held was an ANC march and that I have sold the IFP for R6 million,” says Smanga.

“The reality is that anyone who knows me also knows that I will never join the ANC. Some of the people I named in the memorandum are also members of the IFP but the protest that I held was not against the party. I joined the IFP to ensure that, as an activist, I can ensure that the party achieves its vision. If you are corrupt and an IFP member, I cannot sit back and say that it is fine because you are an IFP member. The IFP stands against corruption. Corruption is the bane of this country and the reason why service delivery cannot take place at the level that it should.”

Smanga believes that it is the IFP members who attacked protestors with guns and sjamboks the night before the march, who are an embarrassment to the party.

“If you can put on an IFP t-shirt and attack a community for wanting to take its issues to the municipality, you are the one who is bringing the IFP to disrepute,” said Smanga.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: IFP Leaders Appear In Court For Attempted Murder Following #VryheidViolentProtests

Smanga went on to explain that it is this act of violence against the protestors that led to the escalation of violence and the destruction of property the next day.

“I have held more than six marches to AbaQulusi Municipality and not one has been violent until now. The instigation of violence was brought about by those IFP members who attacked people in Bhekuzulu on the Thursday night. People became violent after they were shot at and hit with sjamboks.”

Responding to municipal manager (MM), Bonga Ntanzi’s, allegation that he had seen Whatsapp messages in which Smanga had incited people to burn tyres and destroy public infrastructure during the protest, Smanga says that he intends on suing the MM for defamation.

“He (the MM) decided to bring a defamation suit against me for the contents of my memorandum. I will fight that defamation suit and I will win it and then I am going to sue him for lying about me having sent those Whatsapp messages,” concludes Smanga.

He insisted that, if there is an illegal march taking place tomorrow, his supporters will not be involved.

Get regular news updates. Follow the Vryheid Herald on Facebook and Twitter.

Got news? Email estella@caxton.co.za or Whatsapp 0792567570.