The IFP’s insistence of using Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi as the face of its 2024 national general election campaign may be reflecting a brewing political instability within the party, political analyst Ralph Mathekga told Sunday World this week.
In its last national electoral conference in 2019, the IFP unanimously resolved it was mandatory for party faithfuls to wear at all party activities regalia bearing the image of its founding leader, Buthelezi.
The resolution was subsequently affirmed by the national council, which is the highest party structure between conferences. Incumbent Velenkosini Hlabisa appears to be on the ropes, with a section of the party loyalists questioning his motives for turning a blind eye to members who defy the resolution, and instead wear regalia bearing his image.
Sunday World has been reliably informed there has been a bitter factional battle within the party on who should lead the party to the national elections in 2024 – a matter that could, according to some insiders, be resolved at the upcoming the party national conference in August.
The struggle for the party’s top spot is expected to be between Hlabisa and Thamsanqa Ntuli, the party’s KZN provincial chairperson.
There is a growing frustration, according to sources, that many in the party are baying for Hlabisa’s blood, wanting him to be suspended and charged for allegedly bringing the party into disrepute and for failing to call out his supporters for wearing party regalia bearing his name.
It has since emerged, according to sources, that in a heated meeting in Ulundi last week, Hlabisa’s leadership was rubbished, but it was Buthelezi who came to his rescue, arguing the attack was unwarranted.
In an interview with Sunday World this week, Mathekga said the skirmishes and jostling for power were negatively rocking the party. “This has been a raging battle within the IFP, and Buthelezi is allowing it. He should be allowing
others to be elected. The IFP should be thinking of its future,” said Mathekga.
Mathekga said the party was shooting itself in the foot.
In a letter seen by this paper dated May 4 and addressed to district secretaries, party secretary general Siphosethu Ngcobo directs the districts to report all members who have been seen wearing partyregalia that does not bear the face of Buthelezi. “You are to submit a list and details of all members/persons within your district who are known either through social media images or verifiable physical observation who have worn the IFP regalia that does not bear the face of the founder and president emeritus Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, but of the sitting president VF Hlabisa in contravention with the party resolution.”
The IFP was on the brink of political obscurity in the late 1990s but came back strongly during the 2021 municipal elections, winning several councils in KZN. The party’s upward trajectory also saw it in recent months winning back-to-back by-elections.
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