THE IFP has officially launched its residents’ engagement campaign "Kungawe - It’s About You", which they'll take to all corners of Mzansi to urge people to vote for the party.
The IFP remains one of the parties in KZN that has not yet elected its premier candidate. The party said their focus is to build a strong party and to expand it.
IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa, who was sworn in on Thursday, 19 October to fill the vacancy left by the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, said the IFP has never had a premier candidate before elections and might follow that route if they like.
Hlabisa said the IFP didn’t elect a premier candidate in 1994, 2014 and 2021 prior to the elections because their focus is on serving the people.
He said this during the media briefing held by the NEC at Durban Manor on Friday, 20 October. He also warned those who are trying to divide and push the IFP into making decisions based on baseless allegations that they won’t succeed because they're a united front and factions have no space in the party.
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“The NEC has not discussed anything about the premier candidate, but there are people who have come out to indicate who the party will choose. They forget that the IFP has never before elected a premier candidate prior to elections. They left that for after elections. Who knows, the IFP might decide to continue in that fashion,” he said.
He said their focus now is this campaign which aims to engage with people on the problems they have and to grow the party.
“This campaign truly is about each and every South African citizen. We want to engage with you, listen to your concerns and work together to build a better future for our nation,” he said.
Hlabisa also came out for those who continue to spread lies that he was beefing with the provincial chairman, Thami Ntuli.
“Me and uMphemba have a very healthy working relationship. We call each other very often to discuss the activities of the party and meetings. If we are enemies, we wouldn't even be calling each other,” said Hlabisa.
Ntuli also seconded Hlabisa on the statement that they are not beefing and said: “Our focus is to build a strong IFP and expand.”
IFP national spokesman Mkhuleko Hlengwa also came out guns blazing on the people who continue to make baseless allegations against the president of the party and the provincial chairman.
“As far as we know, the two leaders have a healthy relationship and the issues of the premier candidate have not been discussed by the NEC. Those who are making allegations about fighting over it are just spreading unfounded rumours," he said.
