Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi told the crowd that Zwelithini was being used as an excuse for criminals to carry out attacks. Shortly before the violence broke out, the Zulu monarch was quoted in the media saying foreigners ‘must pack their belongings and leave the country’. Both Zwelithini and government have since said he was quoted out of context. Buthelezi said irrespective of who sparked the attacks, they needed to be stopped. “Collectively reach out to foreign nationals in our midst, offering assistance and support. Our nation needs to be seen cleaning up this mess, we need to be seen restoring order.” Buthelezi told the thousands of people that chasing foreigners out of South Africa would not solve the country’s problems as they are embedded in society. The IFP leader and chief condemned criminals who he said capitalised on the media, misinterpreting the comments. Buthelezi says it is all part of the plan by Zulu kingdom’s enemies to discredit the king. But he was also jeered by the crowed when he spoke of peaceful co-existence between foreign and local communities, with some people saying he’ll leave the country with them. He finished by saying he respects the king and asked the people to do the same.
