One of the slogans of the instigators of the July unrest has been adopted by the president of the Inkatha Freedom Party in the run-up to the local elections in November.
“Ayikhale” (meaning “bring it on”) was first used by the former uKhozi FM DJ Ngizwe Mchunu, as he and other Jacob Zuma supporters whipped up civil unrest over the former president’s arrest in July.
Mchunu was arrested later that month for inciting violence which led to widespread looting across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, resulting in the deaths of at least 330 people and damage worth billions of rand.
The National Prosecution Authority later opposed Mchunu’s bail application on the basis that he used the word “ayikhale” to incite the violence.
On Tuesday, while on the election campaign trail in the IFP’s stronghold of Zululand, IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa, repeatedly used the word as he encouraged the crowd to vote for his party.
“These elections are very important for us as a party because they are going to be held for the first time without our founding president, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, since he retired,” Hlabisa began.
“Therefore, ayikhale, so that we will give our then president the best gift ever, ayikhale,” said Hlabisa, at which moment he was met with huge roars from the crowd at the Lindizwe Stadium in Nongoma.
Others in the crowd also ululated and demanded he repeat the slogan.
“Again, the 1st of November is around the corner, therefore Ayikhale. None of the Zululand Municipalities should go to any party other than the IFP, therefore Zizokhala,” said Hlabisa.
Zizokhala is another word used by Zuma supporters, including Mchunu, during the July unrest.
Since the former president’s arrest, the ANC has lost the trust and potentially the vote of many of Zuma’s loyalists. It appears that Hlabisa is trying to make the most of this exodus, as he tries to pick up the votes the ANC is losing