Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, might be facing the tough choice of either stepping down now, or remaining in his position in the hope of quelling factions within the party.
This is according to political analyst, Bheki Mngomezulu. His comments come against the backdrop of the IFP’s National Elective Conference being postponed indefinitely. It was scheduled to take place this weekend.
Mngomezulu says it is time for the IFP leader, Buthelezi to bow out while the party is still intact.
“If he were to stay on under the pretext that he wants to make sure he wants to solve the other problems chances are those who want him to stay on would keep creating as many problems as possible so as to justify his continued stay and then that will not do well for him. People would say, ‘You are the leader of the party and the party is falling apart. So, what are you doing?’ So, that is why, in my view, I don’t think it will be advisable,” says Mngomezulu.
“If I were to advise inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, I would say if there was any time, opportune time for him to leave … it is now! Because at least up to now the party is done well. It is leading in a number of municipalities in the province. So, rather leave now than wait until things go badly because people would say, ‘You built the party, but also destroyed it,'” says Mngomezulu.
The IFP leadership maintains that the National Elective Conference was postponed because party structures were not ready. However, sources inside the party say internal squabbles and factions have led to the postponement.
IFP National Spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa has dismissed speculation that Buthelezi is ready to step down at the conference.
“UMntwana is duty bound to see through the end of the term of office, which he was elected for and that term will end at the conference. If the Prince (had) his way we would go to conference despite these things. Because the problem is people think he took this decision, but we say to him Shenge there are processes and he subjects himself to processes,” says Hlengwa.
The race for leadership in the IFP is said to be between the old guard allegedly known as KKK’s and those who want change, known as the AU’s.
In September 2017, the party’s national leadership named KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary Velenkosini Hlabisa as its preferred successor to Buthelezi. Tensions are said to have worsened when campaign t-shirts, bearing Hlabisa’s face, allegedly mushroomed.
Red jackets allegedly associated with the AU faction have also been made. The old guard is said to be reconsidering their support for Hlabisa. They’ve questioned why he did not distance himself from the activities of the AU faction sooner.
The KKK’s are said to be questioning his leadership, saying he might purge the other faction if elected.
On the other hand, the AU faction claims that the KKK’s are dominant in the current party leadership and that they are using this power to suppress alternative views. They have accused the current leadership of suppressing democracy by postponing the conference. A source within the faction says the old guard fear that their preferred candidates may lose at the conference.
During the extended National Council meeting held on Sunday Buthelezi is alleged to have raised concerns about heated utterances between the two factions, where they allegedly discredited each other.
Meanwhile, the IFP leadership says the conference will be held once all structures are ready.
Hlengwa says Buthelezi will not comment on the allegations.
