Inkatha Freedom Party
Encyclopedia
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is a political party
in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi
. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa
.
, a former member of the ANC Youth League, founded the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement (INCLM), which later became the IFP, in 1975. Buthelezi used a structure rooted in Inkatha (meaning "crown" in Zulu), a 1920s cultural organisation for Zulus established by Zulu King Solomon kaDinuzulu
. The party was established in what is now KwaZulu-Natal
, after which branches of the party quickly sprang up in the Transvaal
, the Orange Free State
and the Western Cape
.
Because of Buthelezi's former position in the African National Congress
, the two organisations were initially very close and each supported the other in the anti-apartheid struggle. However, by the early 1980s the IFP had come to be regarded as a thorn in the side of the ANC, which wielded much more political force through the United Democratic Front (UDF), than the IFP and the Pan Africanist Congress. The UDF killed many opponents of the ANC through necklacing
(where a tire would be put around one's neck, poured with petrol and set alight) This was especially the case during the time period in which Nelson Mandela
, F.W. de Klerk, and others were attempting to retain their dominance during the violence at the end of the apartheid system. Although the IFP leadership favoured non-violence, as opposed to the ANC which had created the Umkhonto we Sizwe
, there is clear evidence that during the time negotiations were taking place, Inkatha and ANC members were at war with each other where Self-Protection Units (SPUs) and Self-Defence Units (SDUs) were formed, respectively, as their protection forces.
As a Homeland leader, the power of Buthelezi depended on the South African state and economy. With anti-apartheid leaders inside South Africa and abroad demanding sanctions, Buthelezi came to be regarded more and more as a Government puppet along with other Bantustan leaders. His tribal loyalties and focus on ethnic interests over national unity was also criticised as contributing to the divisive programme of the IFP. This led to a virtual civil war between Zulu loyalist supporters and ANC members in KwaZulu Natal.
Fearing an erosion of his power, Buthelezi collaborated with the South African Defense Force and received military training for Zulu militia from SADF special forces starting in the 1980s as part of Operation Marion
. IFP members were involved in several massacres in the run up to South Africa's first democratic elections, including the Trust Feed massacre on December 3rd 1988 and the Boipatong massacre
on June 17th 1992.
Many of the attacks carried out by the Inkatha militants were passively and at times actively supported by the South African police force, probably as a result of a coincidence of interest in ensuring that the ANC did not gain political dominance at the coming liberation. This odd coincidence of effort between police and the IFP indicates that not only whites but also the IFP opposed the creation of the South African state envisaged by the hard negotiations that were taking place at the time. The IFP militants were decidedly a minority in their own party.
During the phase of establishing a constitution for South Africa and prior to the first free elections in the history of South Africa, bloodshed frequently occurred between the IFP and the ANC. Both the IFP and ANC attempted to campaign in the each party's stronghold of Kwazulu-Natal and were met with resistance, sometimes violent, by members of both parties. The IFP was also initially opposed to parts of the proposed South African constitution regarding the internal politics of KwaZulu, and in particular they campaigned for an autonomous and sovereign Zulu king, (King Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu), as head of state. As a result, the IFP abstained from registering its party for the election (a necessity in order to receive votes) in opposition. However, once it became obvious that its efforts were not going to stop the election (the IFP's desired goal), the party was registered. However, due to their opposition to the constitution, concessions were made and KwaZulu/Natal (and thus all the other provinces as well) were granted double ballots for provincial and national legislatures, great provincial powers, the inclusion of 'KwaZulu' in the official name of the province and recognition of specific ethnic and tribal groups within Natal.
On election day, the IFP displayed its political strength by taking the majority of the votes for KwaZulu/Natal.
The ANC-IFP rivalry, characterised by sporadic acts of political violence, has been firm since 1994. In 2004, while campaigning in Vulindlela, an IFP bastion in the Pietermaritzburg
-Midlands
region, Thabo Mbeki
was reportedly debarred by an IFP-affiliated traditional leader in Mafunze. Previously the stronghold of Moses Mabhida
, this area has long been the site of heated clashes between the parties.
The IFP seeks to resolve a number of South African issues, especially the AIDS crisis
, in addition to addressing, "unemployment, crime, poverty and corruption and prevent the consolidation of a one-party state" (IFP official website). The "prevention of a one-party state" is with regards to the ruling ANC, which is perceived by many as making efforts to undemocratically consolidate power for their own party. The IFP also states that "Our proposals are designed to give people control over their lives: a hand up, not a hand down. Social justice for all. We also have the political will to deal effectively with these problems."
, one of the party's most respected MPs, drew up a highly critical 11 page internal discussion document at the request of the parliamentary caucus after a discussion in October 2004. In it he said that the IFP
Woods pinpointed 1987 as the year when the IFP started losing ground as a political force. Before 1987, Woods contends, the party had a strong, unambiguous national identity.
At the first caucus discussion, Woods read out the 11-page paper in full and caucus members were generally positive about its frank nature. IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi was absent from that meeting but raised it at a meeting of the party's national council, which Woods did not attend.
At a subsequent caucus meeting where both were present, Buthelezi read from a prepared statement attacking Woods. All the numbered copies were ordered to be "shredded" but some survived.
was marked by a resurgence in its long-standing feud with the ANC, which had decided to adopt more proactive campaigning tactics in Natal. The IFP election manifesto was accordingly sharply critical of the ruling party, its policies and its executive, with the Zimbabwean crisis
, and the shoddy mediation of the ANC and the Southern African Development Community
(SADC), drawing peculiar attention. In a press statement dated 26 January, party official Ben Skosana wrote,
There were frequent bouts of electoral violence between the parties in the build-up to the polls, particularly in Natal. On 8 April, at 21:16, the IFP issued a press statement accusing ANC members of assaulting Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi
, its Natal Premier candidate and National Chairperson, in the Gamalakhe township of Port Shepstone, a historical melting pot for IFP-ANC tensions. The incident began, according to the report, when some fifty ANC backers, in flagrant contravention of the Electoral Code of Conduct, disrupted an official IFP event and hurled abuse at the party's representatives and supporters. The report added that the South African Police Service
had to be called in to escort the dignitaries out of harm's away.
Although the IFP circulated its complaint amongst numerous websites and posted it on its official website, a 'Google' search for the terms "kaMagwaza-Msibi" and "Gamalakhe" yields not a single independent source.
This event, whether it happened or not, followed a similar disruption by ANC supporters – IFP provincial secretary Bonginkosi Buthelezi put their number at more than 500 – in Greytown
the previous Sunday, when they barricaded a road leading into the Nhlakanhle township and stoned IFP motor vehicles. Injuries were sustained by, among others, the Mayor of the Umzinyathi District Municipality
, Mbangiseni Yengwa. The IFP reported both incidents to the SAPS and Independent Electoral Commission
, accusing the ruling party of intimidation
, assault and denying it its right to campaign
freely, and expected "exemplary" action to be taken.
According to Bonginkosi Buthelezi, the stoning happened in full view of the police, who failed in their duty to restore order. He added that the ANC members concerned had defied their own party leadership, claiming that the ANC regional chairperson in the Bhambatha
area, Philani Mavundla, had made a failed attempt to reign in the crowd. "An impasse followed and lasted approximately two hours. Having been abandoned by the SAPS, the IFP delegation dispersed and found its way out of the ambush on its own," he added. The IFP also laid charges of malicious damage to private property
and public violence at the Greytown police station. Police spokesperson Superintendent Sipho Maphalala confirmed the incident: "The case was opened and we are investigating."
IEC spokesperson Mawethu Mosery said that the IEC was deeply concerned at the increased violence and intimidation, and hoped that the parties would seek means of politically tolerant electioneering in the build-up to the elections. "The IFP reported the incident, and we will look into the matter. Political parties need to be aware that intimidation does not help them to retain votes they have in particular area [sic], nor get new ones. It just doesn't work like that," he said.
had accumulated unaccounted-for monies of some R3,000,000. It promised to react strongly, and called for a forensic audit
. "Our party will get to the bottom of this," said Professor Themba Msimang, chairman of its Policy Oversight Committee (POC), "and, if heads have to roll, so be it: they will."
and KaMagwaza-Msibi hosted the party's final pre-election news conference on Tuesday, 14 April, at Northwood Crusaders Sports Club, Durban North
, where they adumbrated their ten-point plan for the party's first 100 days back in provincial power. Also launched was the SIZONQOBA campaign, the IFP's final election drive for the province.
took the opportunity to lampoon its long-serving leader with the tag "just about finished", while other reports had it that KaMagwaza-Msibi was suffering ill health.
, Amajuba and eThekwini
.
The IFP also announced that, rather than lead the party as official opposition in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
, KaMagwaza-Msibi had opted to stay on as Mayor of the Zululand District Municipality
as part of efforts to revive the IFP's grassroots support ahead of the 2011 local government elections. "The party's post-election
priority is the need to accelerate service delivery at local level
rather than play opposition politics," she announced after consulting at length with the party's internal structures.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African Zulu politician who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 and continues to lead the party today.His praise name is Shenge.-Early life:...
. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa
National Assembly of South Africa
The National Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa, located in Cape Town, Western Cape Province. It consists of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members...
.
History
Gatsha Mangosuthu ButheleziMangosuthu Buthelezi
Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African Zulu politician who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 and continues to lead the party today.His praise name is Shenge.-Early life:...
, a former member of the ANC Youth League, founded the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement (INCLM), which later became the IFP, in 1975. Buthelezi used a structure rooted in Inkatha (meaning "crown" in Zulu), a 1920s cultural organisation for Zulus established by Zulu King Solomon kaDinuzulu
Solomon kaDinuzulu
Solomon kaDinuzulu was the king of the Zulu nation from 1913 until his death on 4 March 1933 at Kambi. He was born on the island of St. Helena during the exile there of his father, king Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo....
. The party was established in what is now KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, after which branches of the party quickly sprang up in the Transvaal
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
, the Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
and the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
.
Because of Buthelezi's former position in the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
, the two organisations were initially very close and each supported the other in the anti-apartheid struggle. However, by the early 1980s the IFP had come to be regarded as a thorn in the side of the ANC, which wielded much more political force through the United Democratic Front (UDF), than the IFP and the Pan Africanist Congress. The UDF killed many opponents of the ANC through necklacing
Necklacing
Necklacing is the practice of summary execution and torture carried out by forcing a rubber tyre, filled with petrol, around a victim's chest and arms, and setting it on fire...
(where a tire would be put around one's neck, poured with petrol and set alight) This was especially the case during the time period in which Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, F.W. de Klerk, and others were attempting to retain their dominance during the violence at the end of the apartheid system. Although the IFP leadership favoured non-violence, as opposed to the ANC which had created the Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe , translated "Spear of the Nation," was the armed wing of the African National Congress which fought against the South African apartheid government. MK launched its first guerrilla attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961...
, there is clear evidence that during the time negotiations were taking place, Inkatha and ANC members were at war with each other where Self-Protection Units (SPUs) and Self-Defence Units (SDUs) were formed, respectively, as their protection forces.
As a Homeland leader, the power of Buthelezi depended on the South African state and economy. With anti-apartheid leaders inside South Africa and abroad demanding sanctions, Buthelezi came to be regarded more and more as a Government puppet along with other Bantustan leaders. His tribal loyalties and focus on ethnic interests over national unity was also criticised as contributing to the divisive programme of the IFP. This led to a virtual civil war between Zulu loyalist supporters and ANC members in KwaZulu Natal.
Fearing an erosion of his power, Buthelezi collaborated with the South African Defense Force and received military training for Zulu militia from SADF special forces starting in the 1980s as part of Operation Marion
Operation Marion
Operation Marion was a military operation by the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War. The origins can be traced back to the murder of Piet Retief on 6 February 1838 by the Zulu king Dingane, which led to an alliance between the Boer people and the Zulu's, whereby...
. IFP members were involved in several massacres in the run up to South Africa's first democratic elections, including the Trust Feed massacre on December 3rd 1988 and the Boipatong massacre
Boipatong massacre
The Boipatong massacre took place on 17 June 1992 in Boipatong, South Africa when Inkatha Freedom Party members killed 46 people. On the night of 17 June 1992, a heavily-armed force of Inkatha members secretly raided the Vaal township of Boipatong and killed 46 people...
on June 17th 1992.
Many of the attacks carried out by the Inkatha militants were passively and at times actively supported by the South African police force, probably as a result of a coincidence of interest in ensuring that the ANC did not gain political dominance at the coming liberation. This odd coincidence of effort between police and the IFP indicates that not only whites but also the IFP opposed the creation of the South African state envisaged by the hard negotiations that were taking place at the time. The IFP militants were decidedly a minority in their own party.
During the phase of establishing a constitution for South Africa and prior to the first free elections in the history of South Africa, bloodshed frequently occurred between the IFP and the ANC. Both the IFP and ANC attempted to campaign in the each party's stronghold of Kwazulu-Natal and were met with resistance, sometimes violent, by members of both parties. The IFP was also initially opposed to parts of the proposed South African constitution regarding the internal politics of KwaZulu, and in particular they campaigned for an autonomous and sovereign Zulu king, (King Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu), as head of state. As a result, the IFP abstained from registering its party for the election (a necessity in order to receive votes) in opposition. However, once it became obvious that its efforts were not going to stop the election (the IFP's desired goal), the party was registered. However, due to their opposition to the constitution, concessions were made and KwaZulu/Natal (and thus all the other provinces as well) were granted double ballots for provincial and national legislatures, great provincial powers, the inclusion of 'KwaZulu' in the official name of the province and recognition of specific ethnic and tribal groups within Natal.
On election day, the IFP displayed its political strength by taking the majority of the votes for KwaZulu/Natal.
Post-Apartheid politics
After the dismantling of apartheid system in 1994, the IFP formed an uneasy coalition in KwaZulu/Natal with their traditional political rival, the ANC. This coalition was to last until 2004 when the IFP joined the Democratic Alliance, the major opposition party/coalition to the currently dominant ANC.The ANC-IFP rivalry, characterised by sporadic acts of political violence, has been firm since 1994. In 2004, while campaigning in Vulindlela, an IFP bastion in the Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
-Midlands
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is an inland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that lies outside of Pietermaritzburg but before the Drakensberg mountain range....
region, Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
was reportedly debarred by an IFP-affiliated traditional leader in Mafunze. Previously the stronghold of Moses Mabhida
Moses Mabhida
Moses Mabhida was a South African politician. Mabhida was leader of the South African Communist Party from 1978 until his death in 1986.-Biography:...
, this area has long been the site of heated clashes between the parties.
The IFP seeks to resolve a number of South African issues, especially the AIDS crisis
HIV/AIDS in South Africa
HIV/AIDS in South Africa is a prominent health concern because South Africa is believed to have more people with HIV/AIDS than any other country....
, in addition to addressing, "unemployment, crime, poverty and corruption and prevent the consolidation of a one-party state" (IFP official website). The "prevention of a one-party state" is with regards to the ruling ANC, which is perceived by many as making efforts to undemocratically consolidate power for their own party. The IFP also states that "Our proposals are designed to give people control over their lives: a hand up, not a hand down. Social justice for all. We also have the political will to deal effectively with these problems."
Gavin Woods report
Gavin WoodsGavin Woods (politician)
The Hon Dr. Gavin Woods is the chairman of the standing committee on public accounts and a former member of the Inkatha Freedom Party. He became a member of parliament in 1994 and joined Nadeco in 2005....
, one of the party's most respected MPs, drew up a highly critical 11 page internal discussion document at the request of the parliamentary caucus after a discussion in October 2004. In it he said that the IFP
- has no discernible vision, mission or philosophical base, no clear national ambitions or direction, no articulated ideological basis and offers little in the way of current, vibrant original and relevant policies. Woods also warned the party that it must treat Buthelezi as the leader of a political party and not the political party itself.
Woods pinpointed 1987 as the year when the IFP started losing ground as a political force. Before 1987, Woods contends, the party had a strong, unambiguous national identity.
At the first caucus discussion, Woods read out the 11-page paper in full and caucus members were generally positive about its frank nature. IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi was absent from that meeting but raised it at a meeting of the party's national council, which Woods did not attend.
At a subsequent caucus meeting where both were present, Buthelezi read from a prepared statement attacking Woods. All the numbered copies were ordered to be "shredded" but some survived.
2009
Political violence
The IFP's build-up to the 2009 general electionsSouth African general election, 2009
South Africa held national and provincial elections to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province on 22 April 2009....
was marked by a resurgence in its long-standing feud with the ANC, which had decided to adopt more proactive campaigning tactics in Natal. The IFP election manifesto was accordingly sharply critical of the ruling party, its policies and its executive, with the Zimbabwean crisis
2008–2009 Zimbabwean political negotiations
The 2008–2009 Zimbabwean political negotiations between the opposition Movement for Democratic Change , its small splinter group, the Movement for Democratic Change - Mutambara , and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front are intended to negotiate an end to the partisan...
, and the shoddy mediation of the ANC and the Southern African Development Community
Southern African Development Community
The Southern African Development Community is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states...
(SADC), drawing peculiar attention. In a press statement dated 26 January, party official Ben Skosana wrote,
SADC leadership including President Motlanthe may have to face the reality that ZANU PF military and Police may be playing a much stronger role than the politicians in this crisis and need to engage them in the negotiations for the future of ZimbabweZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
There were frequent bouts of electoral violence between the parties in the build-up to the polls, particularly in Natal. On 8 April, at 21:16, the IFP issued a press statement accusing ANC members of assaulting Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi
Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi
Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi is the national chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party in South Africa and Mayor of Zululand District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal...
, its Natal Premier candidate and National Chairperson, in the Gamalakhe township of Port Shepstone, a historical melting pot for IFP-ANC tensions. The incident began, according to the report, when some fifty ANC backers, in flagrant contravention of the Electoral Code of Conduct, disrupted an official IFP event and hurled abuse at the party's representatives and supporters. The report added that the South African Police Service
South African Police Service
The South African Police Service is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1116 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a Provincial Commissioner is appointed in each province...
had to be called in to escort the dignitaries out of harm's away.
Although the IFP circulated its complaint amongst numerous websites and posted it on its official website, a 'Google' search for the terms "kaMagwaza-Msibi" and "Gamalakhe" yields not a single independent source.
This event, whether it happened or not, followed a similar disruption by ANC supporters – IFP provincial secretary Bonginkosi Buthelezi put their number at more than 500 – in Greytown
Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal
Greytown is a town situated on the banks of a tributary of the Umvoti River in a richly fertile timber-producing area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:...
the previous Sunday, when they barricaded a road leading into the Nhlakanhle township and stoned IFP motor vehicles. Injuries were sustained by, among others, the Mayor of the Umzinyathi District Municipality
Umzinyathi District Municipality
Umzinyathi is one of the 11 district municipalities of KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. The seat of Umzinyathi is Dundee. The majority of its 456 452 people speak IsiZulu...
, Mbangiseni Yengwa. The IFP reported both incidents to the SAPS and Independent Electoral Commission
Independent Electoral Commission (South Africa)
The Independent Electoral Commission is South Africa's independent election management body. It manages elections to the National Assembly, the provincial legislatures and the municipal councils....
, accusing the ruling party of intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
, assault and denying it its right to campaign
Political campaign
A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or referendums are decided...
freely, and expected "exemplary" action to be taken.
According to Bonginkosi Buthelezi, the stoning happened in full view of the police, who failed in their duty to restore order. He added that the ANC members concerned had defied their own party leadership, claiming that the ANC regional chairperson in the Bhambatha
Bhambatha
For other articles named Bhambatha, see Bhambatha .Bambata or Bambatha kaMancinza , also known as Mbata Bhambatha, was a Zulu chief of the amaZondi clan in the Colony of Natal and son of Mancinza...
area, Philani Mavundla, had made a failed attempt to reign in the crowd. "An impasse followed and lasted approximately two hours. Having been abandoned by the SAPS, the IFP delegation dispersed and found its way out of the ambush on its own," he added. The IFP also laid charges of malicious damage to private property
Private property
Private property is the right of persons and firms to obtain, own, control, employ, dispose of, and bequeath land, capital, and other forms of property. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which refers to assets owned by a state, community or government rather than by...
and public violence at the Greytown police station. Police spokesperson Superintendent Sipho Maphalala confirmed the incident: "The case was opened and we are investigating."
IEC spokesperson Mawethu Mosery said that the IEC was deeply concerned at the increased violence and intimidation, and hoped that the parties would seek means of politically tolerant electioneering in the build-up to the elections. "The IFP reported the incident, and we will look into the matter. Political parties need to be aware that intimidation does not help them to retain votes they have in particular area [sic], nor get new ones. It just doesn't work like that," he said.
Fraud charges at uMhlabuyalingana
On 9 April, the IFP reacted with alarm to reports that its uMhlabuyalingana Local MunicipalityUMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality
uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality is one of the five municipalities in the jurisdiction of uMkhanyakude District Municipality, situated in the northeastern part of Kwazulu-Natal Province in South Africa...
had accumulated unaccounted-for monies of some R3,000,000. It promised to react strongly, and called for a forensic audit
Forensic accounting
Forensic accounting is the specialty practice area of accountancy that describes engagements that result from actual or anticipated disputes or litigation. "Forensic" means "suitable for use in a court of law", and it is to that standard and potential outcome that forensic accountants generally...
. "Our party will get to the bottom of this," said Professor Themba Msimang, chairman of its Policy Oversight Committee (POC), "and, if heads have to roll, so be it: they will."
Final drive
Mangosuthu ButheleziMangosuthu Buthelezi
Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African Zulu politician who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 and continues to lead the party today.His praise name is Shenge.-Early life:...
and KaMagwaza-Msibi hosted the party's final pre-election news conference on Tuesday, 14 April, at Northwood Crusaders Sports Club, Durban North
Durban North
Durban North is a suburb located north of Durban, on the eastern side of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Durban North is on the north side of the Umgeni River. It is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, created in 2000, which includes the greater Durban area.A beach known to locals as...
, where they adumbrated their ten-point plan for the party's first 100 days back in provincial power. Also launched was the SIZONQOBA campaign, the IFP's final election drive for the province.
Worst-ever performance
The IFP performed unprecedentedly poorly at the polls, taking just 4.55 percent of the national vote and coming nowhere near victory in Natal. This prompted widespread speculation in the media that its days as a political force were numbered. Far-famed cartoonist ZapiroZapiro
Jonathan Shapiro, born 1958 in Cape Town, is a South African cartoonist, famous as Zapiro, whose work appears in numerous South African publications and has been exhibited internationally on many occasions...
took the opportunity to lampoon its long-serving leader with the tag "just about finished", while other reports had it that KaMagwaza-Msibi was suffering ill health.
Post-election efforts
On 3 May, in a bid to address its problems and dispel media rumours about the well-being of its national chairperson, the IFP announced that KaMagwaza-Msibi would host several post-election rallies in addition to the many public meetings she is already chairing across Natal to thank all those who voted IFP. As of 3 May, her itinerary had covered ZululandKwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, Amajuba and eThekwini
Ethekwini
eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality created in 2000 that includes the city of Durban, South Africa and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The majority of its 3,090,126 people speak Zulu...
.
The IFP also announced that, rather than lead the party as official opposition in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is unicameral in its composition, and elects the premier and the provincial cabinet from among the members of the leading party or coalition in the parliament.-Officers:* Speaker - N.P...
, KaMagwaza-Msibi had opted to stay on as Mayor of the Zululand District Municipality
Zululand District Municipality
Zululand is one of the 11 district municipalities of KwaZulu-Natal province. The seat of Zululand is Ulundi. The majority of its 804,456 people speak IsiZulu . The district code is DC26...
as part of efforts to revive the IFP's grassroots support ahead of the 2011 local government elections. "The party's post-election
priority is the need to accelerate service delivery at local level
rather than play opposition politics," she announced after consulting at length with the party's internal structures.
Election results
| Election | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 South African general election, 2009 South Africa held national and provincial elections to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province on 22 April 2009.... |
804,260 | 4.55 | 18 |
| 2004 South African general election, 2004 Legislative elections were held in South Africa on Wednesday, 14 April 2004. The African National Congress of President Thabo Mbeki, which came to power after the end of the apartheid system in 1994, was re-elected with an increased majority.... |
1,088,664 | 6.97 | 28 |
| 1999 South African general election, 1999 South Africa's second non-racial general election, held on 2 June 1999 was won by the African National Congress , who increased their number of seats by 14. Notable was the sharp decline of the New National Party, previously the National Party , who without former president F.W. de Klerk lost more... |
1,371,477 | 8.58 | 34 |
| 1994 South African general election, 1994 The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three... |
2,058,294 | 10.54 | 43 |