ANC/IFP in T-shirt tug-of-war

ON THURSDAY, Durban businessman Hassan Motala appeared on television in a new ANC T-shirt. Yesterday, he was back in front of the media in IFP attire – the subject of an apparent tug-of-war between the political parties, who both claim him as their own. Hours after his appearance with IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi yesterday, Motala went to ground.

He did not want to be interviewed to shed light on the competing IFP/ANC claims, and instead put The Mercury in contact with his wife’s cousin, Razakagee Hassen.

Hassen said he was liaising with the KwaZulu-Natal ANC to organise security for Motala and his family.

“Hassan was a very influential person in the IFP and the death threats started after he joined the ANC. Hassan and his family are being kept in a safe house because he has been receiving threatening calls and SMSes. We still need to convene a family meeting on the issue before we approach the police, and the whole incident has been very hectic for Hassan,” he said.

But earlier, at the IFP-organised press conference, Motala told reporters a different story.

Seated next to Buthelezi, a visibly shaken Motala claimed he was coerced into wearing an ANC T-shirt during Thursday’s ceremony at the Durban city hall, where he and other IFP and New Freedom Party members were welcomed by prominent ANC members, including provincial chairman Zweli Mkhize and provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala.

“I was called into a business meeting that was politically motivated. There were four people in the meeting, whose names I will not reveal, and they were all wearing ANC jackets. During the business negotiations, I was asked to wear the T-shirt and I wasn’t given any choice,” he said.

“I was intimidated into wearing the T-shirt… I’m still shaken by the incident and can never imagine myself being a member of the ANC.” Motala said he had attended the meeting on behalf of his father, Farouk Motala, who was on a business trip abroad.

“My family and I have extensive business contracts with the KwaZulu-Natal government… The suggestion was that if I wanted to continue doing business with the ANC-led government, I should end my association with the IFP. It was blackmail, a cheap political ploy aimed at destabilising the IFP prior to the 2011 local government elections. It is clear that the ANC has now adopted a policy that they will no longer do business with anyone except those linked to the ruling party,” he said.

Buthelezi said the IFP had convened the press conference to correct the impression that Motala had defected.

“I was surprised to see the broadcast on SABC and to see Mr Motala draped in the colours of the ANC. I was in Durban and we had a discussion that the only way to put things right was by asking the media to put it right,” he said.

A senior IFP member, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said Motala had indicated that he had been pressured by the ANC.

“Apparently Hassan’s family has a huge contract with the KwaZulu-Natal education department worth millions to supply stationery. He was told that his father has to align with the ANC so the contract would be extended. Since his father was not around, he didn’t want to jeopardise the contract so he wore the ANC T-shirt.”

But the ANC disputed this, saying Motala had been a card-carrying ANC member “for a long time”.

Asked why he was only welcomed on Thursday if this was the case, Zikalala said the question was irrelevant and that the party had expected Motala would come under pressure for going public. Claims that Motala had been blackmailed into joining ANC were hogwash, Zikalala said.

The ANC was liaising with the Motala family to provide them with protection. “We are aware of the press briefing called by the IFP. Mr Motala went to the meeting under serious intimidation. We are not worried about the IFP; what is more worrying to us is the lack of tolerance by the IFP to the extent of forcing people to become members of their party.

“We are protecting our members, including Hassan. The ANC will take measures to ensure that our members who are being threatened are protected,” said Zikalala.

Asked whether the ANC planned to lay charges, Zikalala said this would be discussed with the Motala family.

KZN electoral officer Mawethu Mosery said anyone who was being intimidated should report the matter to the police.

IFP spokesman Musa Zondi said he knew “nothing about Motala receiving death threats” and stressed that Motala had voluntarily returned to the party.

The education department could not confirm that Motala was one of its suppliers.