Inside fighting between two Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) movements resulted in the disruption of a media conference in Durban on Wednesday with members hurling insults at each other.
”This is a national organisation not to be run like a spaza shop. If you want to say something on behalf of the organisation, call a meeting beforehand,” said Mbogodo Mbatha, project and activities coordinator for the IFP’s student wing, the South African Democratic Students Movement (Sadesmo).
The comment was aimed at Sadesmo deputy president Ntuthuko Majozi, who had called the briefing.
Majozi said he had also taken on the task of acting president.
The division within the movement became clear when Mbatha and IFP Youth Brigade chairperson Moses Simelani stormed into the IFP headquarters in Durban where the conference was being held.
Majozi had scheduled the meeting to place on record that Sadesmo distanced itself from its now defunct president Thabo Xaba, who had publicly said the IFP needed a new leadership.
The deputy president said the student wing remained optimistic and enthusiastic about change in the IFP, but also understood change could not be achieved by engaging in unconstitutional activities.
As Majozi read out a statement to the media, Mbatha and Simelani hurled insults at him and questioned on whose authority he had called such a meeting.
Mbatha said other IFP structures had not been informed of such a meeting and labelled him a political puppet.
In a statement, Majozi said Sadesmo rejected reports of calls for a change in the party’s leadership.
He said the reports quoted the views of two brigade members, who were no longer tertiary students, which were of a personal nature and not those of Sadesmo.
He said two were no longer members of the movement.
”The party constitution outlines the terms of office of all elected representatives. We were shocked and dismayed to hear such uninformed comments in the public domain,” Majozi said.
”Change cannot be achieved at the expense of the legacy of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and other leaders who have worked tirelessly for the IFP and served it with honesty and dignity,” he added.
An indication of Buthelezi’s waning political influence surfaced last week when he withdrew as a candidate for the chairperson position in the KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders. It was a post he had held since 1994.
The leader announced his withdrawal as a fellow Nkosi Bhekisisa Bhengu secured more nominations.
About 24 amakhosi backed Buthelezi, while 28 favoured Bhengu.
Buthelezi’s surprise move came amid reports that members of the youth wing wanted him replaced by a young blood, and were lobbying for his removal at the party’s elective conference scheduled to take place in Ulundi in July.
Inside fighting has since surfaced. — Sapa