INKATHA Freedom Party (IFP) president Velenkosini Hlabisa has denied that the 20 party members who asked for a special national sitting to allegedly unseat him were forced to apologise.
He revealed this during a media briefing in Durban Manor Hotel on Tuesday, 8 August, which was attended by some of the National Executive Committee (NEC) members who had asked for the special national sitting.
On Saturday, 29 July, 20 IFP NEC members signed a petition asking IFP Secretary-General Siphosethu Ngcobo to call a special sitting. There was a rumour they wanted to table a motion of no confidence against the president.
The NEC dismissed the special council sitting and all 20 members who asked for it were summoned to appear before the NEC in Ulundi, KZN on Monday, 7 August.
Hlabisa said when the 20 members appeared before the NEC, two signatories withdrew their signatures from the petition.
“The petition no longer held constitutional muster in terms of the IFP constitution, which prescribes a minimum of 20. We had a fruitful and constructive engagement with the colleagues, who went as far as offering an apology to the party for the confusion and public anxiety the petition has caused,” he said.
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Hlabisa said while the IFP constitution provides for petitions, it must be understood that this is an exceptional measure.
“The colleagues have categorically distanced themselves from the speculation that suggested that through their petition they would table a motion of no confidence against the IFP president.
“The IFP will not be distracted by the desperate mischief of our detractors who seek to sow divisions in the IFP through speculation or rumour mongering,” he said.
Hlabisa said no action will be taken against the 20 members as they have apologised.
“They didn’t follow the party procedure because our constitution says they should request a meeting with the president. If the president denied them with no reason, they have a right to write to the secretary.
“No one was arm twisted to apologise, but they understood their mistake and apologised. We ended the meeting with the spirit of unity,” he said.
