KwaZulu-Natal's Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) says its victory in the next election will depend on the party's performance in urban areas such as eThekwini and Umgungundlovu.
Thami Ntuli, the party's premiership candidate in the province, said the IFP is currently focusing its campaign primarily on hosting the African National Congress (ANC) in a bid to win the province in the upcoming polls.
The party is running a door-to-door campaign in Inanda township, north of Durban.
Political parties are ramping up election campaigns across the state. Last weekend, former ANC president Thabo Mbeki visited the community of Inanda while campaigning for the ruling party.
The state's official opposition party, IFP, also campaigned in the region. Residents say they are tired of unfulfilled promises. Crime, water cuts and unemployment are just some of their major concerns.
“My children are unemployed. We all depend on my pension. We are sometimes forced to go without water for weeks. I'm sure I won't vote this time. “But I changed my mind because voting is the only way to bring about change in this area,” the resident said.
Another resident laments: “The main problem here is water. We also live in fear because of the high crime rate. Because we need to make sure that services are provided to the people here. , we are going to vote.”
IFP says the party is showing signs of growth in urban areas where it has previously struggled to attract voters.
The party says the results of recent by-elections show it could regain control of the state.
“The party recognizes that there are many people who are discouraged from voting because of the poor state of government in this state.The IFP recognizes that these people know what we could have done. So it sends a message that they should give us a chance,' which we wanted to achieve when we were in charge of the province,'' says IFP's Ntuli.
IFP has said it hopes to win well over 2 million votes in the state in upcoming polls.
Video: Election 2024 – IFP campaigns north of Durban: Thami Ntuli
