Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Belenkosini Hlavisa has reaffirmed his party's position that it does not want to form a coalition with the African National Congress (ANC).
This comes as the party demands the resignation of a senior party official who secured the Umvoti municipality mayor's seat with ANC support. Reflecting on the party's campaign to date, Mr Hlabisa shared the party's ambition to secure strong control in KwaZulu-Natal and advocated peaceful elections.
IFP senior leader Gabriel Malembe was elected mayor of Umvoti on Tuesday following a vote of no confidence against ABC's Philani Mavundla.
Hlabisa said the decision taken by Malembe and the ANC was not supported by the IFP, adding that the IFP's decision not to form a coalition government with the ANC stood.
“The elected mayor has been given notice to resign because he cannot do what he has done without the mandate of the IFP. This is a record that I believe will never be surpassed. We have taken the position that we cannot govern with a party that has been destroyed, and we are campaigning to eliminate that party.Therefore, what happened yesterday did not have the blessing of the IFP and has been ordered to be reversed. Ta.”
In the 2019 elections, IFP received just under 600,000 votes nationwide, making it the fourth largest political party in the country. Hlavisa said the party wants to triple its support base in next week's elections.
“In 2019 we received 599,839 votes. We aim to triple this number, winning between 1.8 million and 2 million votes to lead the KwaZulu government and the Gauteng executive branch. Our goal is to be part of the government and to be part of the government at the national level, because we are going to be a powerful force there in terms of representation.”
KwaZulu-Natal has been flagged as a potential hotspot for violence in the upcoming elections, with areas including Nongoma, Ulundi and EThekwini Hostel. Hlavisa therefore urged political parties and supporters to accept the results of the May 29 poll.
“Because in 2021 we saw the ANC being forced out of key areas that it ruled. Umhlatuse in KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa's largest economic hubs. They were taken from the city of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, but now back in the federation with headaches, but there was no violence. Political parties must accept that when the people speak, their will must be respected, and I have confidence in the security of our country.”
Hlabisa also dispelled reports that the IFP is a regional party based mainly in KwaZulu-Natal.
The IFP leader said the party was popular with South Africans who wanted to show their support at the May 29 polls.
Video | 2024 Elections | “IFP's effort is to take back KwaZulu-Natal”: Belenkosini Hlavisa
