The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which is largely present in KwaZulu-Natal and in pockets of the Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces, says it is pushing ahead with its preparations for next year’s local government elections.
However, the Zulu ethno party is mum on elective conferences to elect new leaders from branches to the national level, as the term of office for the current crop of leaders elected in 2019 has expired.
In a statement issued after Monday’s weekly meeting of the national executive committee (NEC) of the party, it said all branches are now being converted into election machinery.
“The IFP is intensifying preparations for the 2026 local government elections, guided by our commitment to responsible governance, cleaner administration, and improved service delivery.
“We continue to monitor IFP-led municipalities to ensure they meet the highest standards of accountability and developmental planning. Branch inaugurations across the country are being aligned with election readiness, with a firm focus on converting branches into operational election committees.
“The IFP remains committed to offering South Africans a credible, ethical, and people-centred alternative in local governance,” the party said in the statement.
The party is largely expected to lose control of Newcastle, Amajuba, and Uthukela municipalities after it dismally failed to resolve the decades-long water crisis faced by these areas. It is also expected to face a strong challenge from the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) in municipalities like Umhlathuze (Richards Bay), Umlalazi (Eshowe), and Inkosi Langalibalele (Estcourt).
Meanwhile, the NEC of the party reaffirmed its support for KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, ahead of next Monday’s vote of no confidence in the provincial legislature.
The NEC said the MK Party, which brought the motion, is “baseless” and “represents a reckless attempt to destabilise the province at a time when KZN requires focused governance and continuity.”
It added that if the MKP truly believes it has legitimate concerns, it should submit them to the appropriate oversight bodies rather than resorting to political theatrics.
“Moreover, the MKP must prioritise pressing issues of its own making—especially the safe return of South Africans misled into travelling to Russia to engage in a conflict they neither understood nor consented to,” the NEC added.
