The Inkatha Freedom Party has cracked the whip following a public debate about its leadership, with its national chairperson swearing allegiance to 76-year-old party president Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
In statements emanating from the national council meeting held at Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend, Dr Ziba Jiyane — in response to ”unrelenting media speculation” that he aspires to lead the party — ”unequivocally and fully” expressed ”his full support of the leadership of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi”.
His statement underscores the tension in the party as it heads towards its national conference in July — with persistent talk that Jiyane, seen as a competing force to Buthelezi, is being challenged for his position by the party’s traditionalist guard.
Jiyane — who openly portrays himself as a political conservative, a position consistent with the values of the IFP — underscored the vulnerability of his own position by issuing a statement saying: ”I would like to bring an end to the innuendo and rumours that have persisted in recent weeks, fuelled by unscrupulous and dishonest elements.
”These reports have suggested that I am a leader of a faction that seeks to oust Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi from the leadership of the IFP.
”There have also been allegations that I am a ‘reformist’ who demands transformation with the undisguised insinuation that it is Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi who is resisting change.”
Set against a background of a poor performance in last year’s national election — mirrored by a gentle decline in support in recent municipal by-elections in its power base of KwaZulu-Natal — Jiyane said: ”I wish to make it clear that if there are any persons or factions within, or aligned to the party, who are agitating for me to challenge Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi for the leadership, that they do so without my approval and should stop forthwith.”
As the party struggles to adapt to being out of power — holding just three seats in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government and no representation at national level — the conference also tried to stop information flowing from its national council meetings.
Recent media reports, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, have focused on desires to renew the party’s public representation, with a possible purge of underperforming members.
The party said in a resolution that it notes ”with gratitude the regret expressed by the national chairperson [Jiyane] that a matter pertaining to the national council was discussed in the media”.
The party said it resolves ”to uphold the rule” that no member of the national council without exception is permitted to discuss the body’s business outside of the meeting and to uphold the rule that no rebuttal, clarification or comment about the work of the national council is allowed, except by a national council resolution or press statement.
The statement serves to underscore that the party is divided — among a modernist, reforming faction and one that backs the current leadership of Buthelezi and his choice of teammates, which clearly does not include Jiyane.
It ”implored” all its officials ”to desist from airing their differences of opinion in the media”.
With local government elections coming up later in the year or early next year, the July conference of the IFP will be pivotal to determine whether a modernising faction can achieve the upper hand — with hopes of arresting a shrinking support base and renewing an ageing national and provincial leadership.
But at the moment, the Buthelezi old guard, including traditional chiefs, appears — at least on paper — to have the upper hand.
Any aspirations held by a more youthful constituency of the party, which remains the largest black opposition party to the African National Congress, to challenge the predominant leadership is being publicly crushed. — I-Net Bridge