Local elections cause of escalating conflict: Buthelezi

DURBAN July 29 Sapa

The November 1 local government elections and the forced
modernisation of traditional communities caused conflict between
the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party in
KwaZulu/Natal, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said on Saturday.

Addressing Durban's Jewish Club, Buthelezi predicted that this
conflict would escalate.

The recent controversy surrounding an Act which accords to
central government the responsibility of paying traditional
leaders, was hiding the issue of whether government should take
control of civil society, he said. were unwilling to become "organs of
the central government".

Zulu chiefs on Friday resolved to support the province in its
decision to oppose the Remuneration of Traditional Leaders Act.

The IFP had drafted a rural government model which respected
the role of traditional leaders at community level, while
harnessing municipalities and traditional communities in a
development framework, Buthelezi said.

He also rejected the recently enacted Labour Relations Bill,
saying it would maintain the old system of government control of
labour.

The Act and the National Enonomic, Development and Labour
Council (Nedlac) could pave the way for greater state control of
trade unions, he added.