More names have been thrown into the hat as the IFP’s race for the KwaZulu-Natal premier candidate post heats up.
Until now, IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa and the party’s KwaZulu-Natal chairperson, Thamsanqa Ntuli, had been the early front runners.
This as the party of founding president emeritus Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi hopes to win the provincial vote in the 2024 elections on the back of a weakening governing ANC.
According to insiders who spoke to Sunday World on Wednesday, lobbying is going on between various factions.
“Although Mphemba [Ntuli] appears to be in pole position, a lot can still happen between now and next year,” said an insider who is not authorized to speak to the media.
“A view is also emerging within the party that perhaps to unite the party, we need to put a new candidate apart from Mphemba and Bulawayo [a reference to Hlabisa].”
Another source said attempts to neutralize strong factions backing the duo might result in Hlabisa being deployed to the National Assembly.
Ntuli would then remain as King Cetshwayo district mayor, said the source.
“This would mean that we will be left with two candidates, Thulasizwe Buthelezi and Blessed Gwala.”
Buthelezi is the mayor of Zululand district while Gwala is IFP’s national chairperson and the longest-serving member in the legislature.
Sunday World has reported extensively the tensions between Hlabisa’s and Ntuli’s supporters in the ongoing leadership race.
Hlabisa has been facing internal revolt with several senior party leaders including those serving as mayors in various municipalities gunning for his head.
His detractors also blocked his supporters from wearing party regalia bearing his face, and wanted him to be sanctioned for their conduct.
On the other hand, Ntuli has enjoyed hegemony among the party’s rank and file. He has also enjoyed support in key constituencies.
He is also praised for growing party support, especially in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where the party has recorded back-to-back by-election victories.
Despite the public jostling and bickering, the party continues to reject any alleged rift as a smear campaign to derail its electoral prospects.
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