The battle for leadership of the IFP has begun in earnest despite a date for the national elective conference not yet being finalised.
The highly contested conference is expected to elect a new president to lead the party that was founded by the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, at the local government elections next year.
The IFP is preparing for its 50th anniversary with a thanksgiving service in Melmoth on Friday and the main celebration at the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Stadium in Ulundi on Sunday.
Party leader Velenkosini Hlabisa has been at the helm since he took over from Buthelezi in August 2019.
Other party leaders said to be vying for the top position are KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli, provincial Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi and party deputy president Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi.
The IFP has two known factions — the konke kuhamba kahle (KKK) faction which backs Ntuli, and abusekho ubunzima (AU) which supports Hlabisa.
The KKK is stronger than the AU in terms of resources since it has many mayors and a premier in its fold. The factions started while Buthelezi was still alive.
Some regional party leaders have come out openly in support of Hlabisa. Among these is Zululand party chairperson and mayor Mkhonyovu Khumalo.
Khumalo was seen in a video saying, “we are hearing people talking, but uNgotsha [Hlabisa] will continue to lead the party.”
“The party has done well under Hlabisa's leadership, and since he took over the organisation is growing in leaps and bounds,” Khumalo told TimesLIVE Premium.
The Zululand region, which also incorporates Ulundi, has been an IFP stronghold since its formation in 1975 by Buthelezi.
Inkosi Buthelezi, who has been deputising since 2012, had been earmarked to eventually succeed the IFP founder, but he was reportedly unable to command the support of certain factions and fell out of favour, which led to the emergence of Hlabisa.
National spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa didn’t respond to questions about the succession battle.
Party insiders who spoke to TimesLIVE Premium on condition of anonymity tip Ntuli to take over the party after the conference.
“Ntuli enjoys popular support in the party and his election as premier has given him the edge over Hlabisa,” said an insider.
“Ntuli has positioned himself very well and I know even Hlabisa is scared of him,” another insider said.
I think there will be a gentleman's approach between Ntuli and Hlabisa not to contest each other for the sake of maintaining unity and stability in the party
— Zakhele Ndlovu, political analyst and UKZN academic
KwaZulu-Natal-based political analyst Nco Dube said the IFP national elective conference would be an interesting development in the party's history.
“The party will have to choose between Hlabisa and Ntuli, and from where I am sitting their strength is equal,” he said.
Political analyst and University of KwaZulu-Natal academic Zakhele Ndlovu, however, believes Ntuli and Hlabisa will not contest each other.
“I think there will be a gentleman's approach between Ntuli and Hlabisa not to contest each other for the sake of maintaining unity and stability in the party,” said Ndlovu.
He said the IFP is not known for practising internal democracy.
“During its formation the IFP had no internal democracy as Prince Buthelezi was not contested until he stepped down, and after he stepped down he hand-picked Hlabisa without being contested. I think they will continue with that old tradition,” he said.
Ndlovu warned once the party allows internal democratic processes, it would be the end of the IFP.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.