/ 25 January 2011

Buthelezi ‘betrayed’ by new party

Buthelezi 'betrayed' By New Party

Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi felt “betrayed and disappointed” by the party’s former national chairperson announcing the formation of a new party on Tuesday.

‘The announcement by IFP national chairperson, Mrs Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, that she has abandoned the IFP to form a new party is a political matter which goes beyond my personal sadness, [to a] sense of betrayal and disappointment,” said Buthelezi in a statement.

Magwaza-Msibi and her backers on Tuesday announced they had cut ties with the IFP to form the National Freedom Party.

‘The IFP has been tried and tested over many decades of struggle against apartheid and confrontations with the ANC. We cannot be bought. We cannot be bent. We cannot be swayed,” Buthelezi said.

The fact that the new party was registered months ago showed it received financial support from the same “political forces” the IFP intended to hold accountable and keep in check.

‘It is no surprise that this type of transformation of the IFP and the effectiveness of the role we intend to play is undermined by what appears to be a well-orchestrated plot.” — Sapa