Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) President, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, says the party has decided to postpone its provincial and national conference due to internal squabbles.
The party leader said challenges of slate politics were not unique to African National Congress (ANC), as the IFP was facing similar challenges.
Inkosi Buthelezi was speaking at a gathering in Durban where the party welcomed new members.
With the National election set to be held next year, the IFP has hit the ground running, even before its election campaigns are officially launched. The party is already on a mass recruitment drive, and wants to regain the position it lost in 2014 as the official opposition party in KZN.
Since the 2016 local elections, the IFP has been on an upward trajectory winning most of the by-elections.
Inkosi Buthelezi believes the party’s recent successes has renewed people’s faith in the party.
“I come from the ANC Youth League… I come from the same political place as you do. But, just like you, when I saw that it was changing, and that things were not being done in the best interest of my country, I chose my country…, I chose to stick to principles to maintain my integrity.”
Expressing concern that factionalism was hurting the party, Buthelezi admitted that the IFP too is facing its own challenges.
“I cannot lie and say that all is well with the IFP… we too are experiencing a number of challenges, and looking at these issues we decided that it’s not the right time to hold our conferences.”
IFP new member Romeo Hulane hopes party the will bring change.
“We are very happy to be joining the IFP, I feel that this is the party that will assist us with the work we are doing to change people’s lives.”
Despite announcing his intentions to step down, Buthelezi remains party president.
It remains uncertain if and when the IFP will hold its conferences that will elect new leadership.
