The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has made a significant reshuffle within its leadership, with the party’s president, Velenkosini Hlabisa, joining the National Assembly. This move comes after the unfortunate passing of the party’s founder, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, creating a vacancy that needed to be filled.
The decision to shift Hlabisa from his role as the KwaZulu-Natal caucus leader to the National Assembly was made during the IFP’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday.
The party’s provincial legislature chief whip, Blessed Gwala, will take over Hlabisa’s duties at the KZN Legislature caucus. Velenkosini Hlabisa, who was elected as the IFP president in 2019, played a crucial role in the party’s resurgence in KZN.
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Following the 2011 split that led to the formation of a rival organization, the National Freedom Party (NFP), the IFP experienced a decline. However, under Hlabisa’s leadership, the party managed to regain its strength.
The IFP expressed its confidence in President Hlabisa and wished him well in his new responsibilities as the IFP parliamentary leader. The party also saw this as an opportunity to bring back Reverend Musa Zondi, the former secretary general, from retirement.
Zondi, who previously served as the deputy minister of Public Works, will now join the IFP KZN Legislature Caucus as a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL).
Furthermore, the IFP Women’s Brigade deputy chairperson, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, has been elevated to the role of IFP provincial legislature caucus chief whip.
These changes in leadership were made to ensure a smooth transition and to carry forward the legacy and life’s work of Prince Buthelezi. The IFP aims to consolidate party unity and strengthen its position for the upcoming 2024 national and provincial elections.
In addition to the internal reshuffling, the party is currently in talks with the Democratic Alliance (DA) to form a united front against the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in the 2022 general elections.
While it is unlikely that the DA/IFP coalition will secure 50%+1 support in the national elections, political analysts believe that they have a chance to dislodge the ANC from power in KZN.
