IFP’s Gwala fuels history debate

THE IFP’s National Chairperson, Blessed Gwala, has lambasted the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) for proposing to ‘enforce’ history as a subject to all pupils at all schools.

He was reacting to the union’s resolution taken recently at their Provincial Conference held in Durban, that history be made compulsory.

Speaking on the side-lines of an IFP rally in KwaNkombose, near Mtubatuba, Gwala said he was disturbed by SADTU’s continued interference on political matters, instead of focusing on improving the standard of education, and matric results in particular.

‘Firstly, it is dictatorial on their part to suggest that the subject must be made compulsory, and secondly the problem is that they are in fact calling for an ANC history. While we may agree with them that the current history being taught at schools is selective in that it recognises Europeans, we are aware that they also want to give us their selective history that recognises ANC leaders only.

‘Look at what is happening in the streets of Durban. They were renamed after ANC heroes, as if the ANC is the only party that liberated this country,’ he said.

Turning to IFP matters, Gwala welcomed about 59 new members, who came from the ANC in Mtubatuba. He said his party was always ready to welcome those who have realised the mistake they made by joining other political parties.

‘People are taking the IFP’s commitment, as articulated in its manifesto, seriously and are moving to a party they can trust. This is also proof that the IFP is growing.

‘We are delighted to have welcomed our brothers and sisters. What pleases me is that they have voluntarily decided to side with the IFP, after being exposed to poor service delivery and nepotism being practised at the ANC-led Mtubatuba Local Municipality.

‘It is true that the last service delivery ever to be experienced by the community of Mtuba, was when the IFP was in power. The Mtuba Municipality continues to attract negative media reports. The municipality is dysfunctional, and is getting worse, even after the appointment of an Administrator.

‘This is a great motivation to us as we continue recruiting new members countrywide. This also bodes well for our national campaign to reclaim all the municipalities we once had, come Local Government Elections in 2016.’

ANC’s Far North Regional Secretary Thokozani Ngema could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.