The IFP’s presidential race is expected to heat up in the coming days as the current deputy president of the party, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, is expected to throw his hat in the ring for the top post.
The much-anticipated IFP’s elective conference is expected to take place next month.
Buthelezi, who also serves as the Minister of Public Service and Administration of South Africa in the Government of National Unity (GNU), is expected to face off with the incumbent party leader, Velenkosini Hlabisa. Hlabisa is also the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Buthelezi side-stepped the question about his expected candidacy, saying: “There are so many important things. I can confirm that the IFP is very committed to good and clean governance as demonstrated by five (5) IFP run Municipalities which received Clean Audit opinion from the Auditor-General.”
He added: “Therefore, as the Minister of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), responsible for building an ethical, professional and developmental state, and Minister Hlabisa, responsible for Local government - we are hard at work proving that we do what we preach.”
He further stated: “I fail, therefore, to understand as to why ‘your speculation’ is so much more newsworthy than what I have made an example of, which I believe people of South Africa will love to know as it gives hope to the future”.
The party was expected to hold the elective conference in 2023 but postponed it due to the national elections that were held last year, where the party emerged as a key partner in the GNU and the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal.
The IFP provincial chairperson in KZN, Thamsanqa Ntuli, is the premier of the province.
It was speculated for some time that Ntuli would challenge Hlabisa for the party’s top post.
However, he withdrew from the race in December, announcing that he was focusing on building party structures in the province.
According to Insiders, this is what inspired Buthelezi to contest the top post.
“Buthelezi is keen on contesting the presidential position when we hold the elective conference. Ntuli’s withdrawal motivated him to raise his hand for the top position. He hopes that the votes that belonged to Ntuli would go to him,” said a party leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another party member said: “Those who will be running for the top positions are already lobbying branch members to vote for them. This conference will be heated considering that it will be the first time the party will be holding internal elections since the passing of our leader, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi.”
Late last year, the party announced that it had tasked Secretary-General Siphosethu Ngcobo to conduct a comprehensive audit of the party's 800 branches ahead of the conference.
In August, the party’s national executive committee and national council were tasked with developing a comprehensive roadmap for the conferences, reinforcing the need for branch audits.
The party will be holding an elective conference for the first time without its late founder and long-standing leader, Prince Buthelezi, who died in September 2023.
Hlabisa, who stepped into the presidency in 2019 as Buthelezi's chosen successor, now faces formidable opposition from some within the party.
The IFP, having lost substantial support following the emergence of its splinter group, the National Freedom Party (NFP), in 2011, appears to have regained its lost ground as it won in a series of recent by-elections, even outperforming the ANC in key wards.
In the wake of solid victories during the 2021 local government elections, the IFP now governs multiple municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal, including the City of uMhlathuze (Richards Bay) and the King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
The party is also preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.
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