IFP chairperson Thami Ntuli announced he will not contest party leader Velenkosini Hlabisa when the party holds its elective conference next year. Picture supplied
Durban — In a bid to avoid a bruising contest that could stoke divisions, the IFP chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Thamsanqa Ntuli, will not be contesting the upcoming national conference expected early next year.
Ntuli, who also serves as the premier of KwaZulu-Natal, was widely expected to challenge the incumbent president, Velenkosini Hlabisa.
However, during a media briefing held at the IFP’s office in Durban on Thursday, Ntuli made it clear that his focus would be on strengthening the party's structures throughout the province rather than seeking the presidency.
“I am not available for any nomination. What I know is that we have the president, we have the deputy, we have the NEC, and we have the structures of the IFP,” said Ntuli.
His popularity among grassroots members had suggested a potential shift in leadership, but the party’s upper echelons have been working behind the scenes to quell any would-be potential rifts that could arise from a leadership contest as they prepare for an elective conference.
As Ntuli stands firm on his decision, the path appears clearer for Hlabisa to retain his position as party leader. The upcoming conference coincides with preparations for the local government elections that are slated for next year.
In the lead-up to the conference, IFP Secretary-General Siphosethu Ngcobo is already engaged in an extensive audit of the party’s approximately 800 branches. This audit aims to provide a robust foundation for nominating candidates for senior positions and ensuring that the party’s credibility remains intact as it prepares for its election year.
In recent remarks, Hlabisa indicated the ongoing preparation efforts: “The IFP Secretary-General has set up several audit teams, consisting of members from the National Council. The teams will assess our current branches and prepare to audit an additional 1 400 once they are inaugurated,” he said.
The upcoming conference will also mark a new era for the IFP, as it will be the first time the party convenes without its revered founder, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who passed away in September last year. Buthelezi had always guarded unity in the IFP, a party he founded.
Currently, the IFP is experiencing a resurgence, having won in several key by-elections and regained municipal control in areas previously dominated by the ANC.
Following their success in the 2021 local elections, where they outperformed other parties in key regions, the IFP governs multiple municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal, including the bustling City of uMhlathuze (Richards Bay) and the King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
As the party looks toward the 2026 local elections, Ntuli expressed ambitions of winning additional municipalities, emphasizing a strategic plan to expand IFP governance beyond the 25 municipalities currently under its control in the province.
Independent political analyst Thobani Zikalala had earlier cautioned that a fierce contest for leadership within the IFP could backfire, potentially leading to fractures that would detract from the party's electoral success in the critical year ahead. With Ntuli stepping back from the race, the focus is now on unity and preparation, aiming to solidify the IFP’s position in South African politics.
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