Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is considering postponing its elective conference to 2027 in order to avoid divisions ahead of the local government elections next year.
Two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said postponement is being discussed by the national leadership and the decision would be taken when the leadership meets early next year.
“We have heard that there will be no conference next year as was expected. No party would want to hold an elective conference on the year of elections so I suspect it is the same reason why the leadership wants to postpone it,” said a local leader.
The leader, who is a known backer of IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa, said he would welcome the decision because he does not see the reason for a conference since the party is still doing well under his leadership.
“Why change the winning team? For me there is no need to rush to a conference since the party is still doing well. I hear there is a plan to postpone the conference and this is a good idea,” said the leader.
Another local leader said he was also informed by senior party members that there will be no conference next year. He said besides avoiding the divisions ahead of local government elections, he did not think the party was ready for a national conference.
“Remember that we still have to hold conferences for constituencies (sub-regions), regions, provinces before the national conference. Surely no party can do that within a year,” said the leader.
Sub-regions are aligned to local municipalities while regions are made up by district municipalities. There are 43 local municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, 10 district municipalities and one metro which is a region on its own.
In response to suggestions of postponement, Hlabisa said the national council will meet early next to discuss the road map.
The national council will meet in January to discuss the road map to a conference and local government elections,” said Hlabisa.
He was elected in 2019 and his first term has ended. He was initially expected to be contested by current provincial chairperson and premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, however, he has since pulled out. Ntuli announced last year that he was not available for any nominations, however, speculations are that he would contest for the deputy president position not under Hlabisa’s slate. In a poster that emerged a few months ago, Ntuli appeared under the slate with inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi as president.
Although Ntuli previously dismissed the poster as fake, insiders in the party said the lineup was real. Buthelezi, who is currently the deputy party president and Minister of Public Service Administration under the Government of National Unity, had previously played down the suggestion of voting slates, saying the spokesperson or the party president will call a press conference to address the issue.
Also on the list, according to the social media poster, is current Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi who is being lobbied for the secretary-general position. He also previously dismissed the poster.
