A top Pietermaritzburg High Court judge on Friday urged two feuding Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) factions to “find peace”.
“I suggest you get together and find peace. You are all here. This is a wonderful opportunity to find peace,” KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Chima Patel said.
He made the suggestion during an application by IFP chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi to stop the party hauling her before an inquiry that might result in her expulsion.
Magwaza-Msibi’s application was heard together with those of three other IFP members.
Wiseman Mcoyi, of the “Friends of VZ” group that supports Magwaza-Msibi, Nhlanhla Khawula and Thokozani Zulu lodged papers in the same court in July, challenging their expulsion and the legality of the current party leadership.
The three were expelled from the IFP after they openly campaigned for Magwaza-Msibi.
Patel said it was important for the factions to find peace, saying the IFP had played a big role in KwaZulu-Natal.
“We have brothers fighting against each other,” he said.
However, his suggestion was not accepted by counsel representing Magwaza-Msibi, Zulu, Mcoyi and Khawula, and proceedings continued.
Magwaza-Msibi also wants the court to order the party to hold its elective conference, which has been postponed six times since July last year.
Her supporters claim she is being elbowed out of the race to succeed current IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
‘The reasonable time has been too long’
Advocate Omar Moosa argued that the term of office for the national council, which expelled his clients (Zulu, Mcoyi and Khawula), had expired in October 2009.
“The elective conference was supposed to be in October 2009. So this means that it doesn’t exist,” Moosa said.
According to the IFP constitution, the national executive council and the office bearers could stay on for a reasonable time after their term of office had lapsed.
Moosa said the reasonable time could be five to 10 years, urging the court to force the party to hold elections.
“It has been six years since IFP members exercised their franchise. That must be considered. The reasonable time has been too long,” he said.
The IFP had always argued that the elections were postponed because of ructions caused by the intense lobbying for the presidency position currently held by Buthelezi.
The party had since indicated it would conduct the elections in December.
“They are now saying the elections will be held in December. How do they know there will be no ructions in December?” Moosa asked.
It was clear the reasons for the postponement were not because of ructions.
Moosa said his clients were expelled because they challenged the establishment.
Earlier, police commissioner Bheki Cele visited scores of police officers deployed outside the court to prevent clashes.
Large numbers of Magwaza-Msibi and supporters of current IFP leaders picketed outside the court.
“I am here to ensure that there is safety and security. I am working,” Cele said. — Sapa