The Inkatha Freedom Party has formally expelled members of the party who defected along with the party’s former nation chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi.
An IFP national council meeting in Ulundi at the weekend resolved “to summarily expel” all IFP councillors who had joined the new National Freedom Party (NFP), started by Magwaza-Msibi.
It also resolved to “revoke their positions on their respective councils on the grounds that as members of another political party they cannot be public representatives of the IFP”.
Earlier this week, Magwaza-Msibi launched the NFP at the Durban City Hall.
The council also formally severed Magwaza-Msibi’s party membership, as she had not officially resigned.
It also expelled councillors Ntokozo Bhengu from the uMgungundlovu District, and Mphiyake Alson Hlatshwayo, Musa Abednego Shabangu and Sibusiso Mkhabela, all from the eDumbe Local Municipality (Paulpietersburg).
They have all joined the NFP.
The relationship between Magwaza-Msibi and IFP leaders began to sour last year when her supporters started campaigning for her. Some were expelled for “sowing division” in the party.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled last week against an attempt by Magwaza-Msibi to force the party to hold an elective conference, and to prevent it from taking her to a disciplinary inquiry.
IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi recently said he was willing to reconcile with her. – Sapa