Inkatha Freedom Party

Inkatha Freedom Party
Leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Founded 1975
Ideology Populism,
Zulu Nationalism
International affiliation None
Official colours Black, Red
National Assembly members 18
Website
http://www.ifp.org.za/
Politics of South Africa
Political parties
Elections
President
Deputy President
Parliament
Council of Provinces
National Assembly
Constitutional Court

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.

Contents

History

Gatsha Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a former member of the ANC Youth League, founded the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement (INCLM), which later became the IFP, in 1975. Buthelezi used a structure rooted in Inkatha (meaning "crown" in Zulu), a 1920s cultural organization for Zulus established by Zulu King Solomon kaDinuzulu. The party was established in what is now KwaZulu-Natal, after which branches of the party quickly sprang up in the Transvaal, the Orange Free State and the Western Cape.

Because of Buthelezi's former position in the African National Congress, the two organizations were initially very close and each supported the other in the anti-apartheid struggle. However, by the early 1980s the IFP had come to be regarded as a thorn in the side of the ANC, which wielded much more political force through the United Democratic Front (UDF), than the IFP and the Pan Africanist Congress. The UDF killed many opponents of the ANC through necklacing (where a tire would be put around one's neck, poured with petrol and set alight) This was especially the case during the time period in which Nelson Mandela, F.W. de Klerk, and others were attempting to retain their dominance during the violence at the end of the apartheid system. Although the IFP leadership favored non-violence, as opposed to the ANC which had created the Umkhonto we Sizwe, there is clear evidence that during the time negotiations were taking place, Inkatha and ANC members were at war with each other where Self-Protection Units (SPUs) and Self-Defence Units (SDUs) were formed, respectively, as their protection forces. This was explained by the IFP leadership as a response to the concerted and very public ANC calls for and acts of violence against IFP members and leadership. Many of the attacks carried out by the Inkatha militants were passively and at times actively supported by the South African police force, probably as a result of a coincidence of interest in ensuring that the ANC did not gain political dominance at the coming liberation. This odd coincidence of effort between police and the IFP indicates that not only whites, but the IFP were opposed to the creation of the South African state envisaged by the hard negotiations that were taking place at the time. The IFP militants were decidedly a minority in their own party. On the other side the ANC millitants were actively involved in undercover Cash heists which is believed to have boosted the ANC financially during 1994 polls.

During the phase of establishing a constitution for South Africa and prior to the first free elections in the history of South Africa, bloodshed frequently occurred between the IFP and the ANC. Both the IFP and ANC attempted to campaign in the each party's stronghold of Kwazulu-Natal and were met with resistance, sometimes violent, by members of both parties. The IFP was also initially opposed to parts of the proposed South African constitution regarding the internal politics of KwaZulu, and in particular they campaigned for an autonomous and sovereign Zulu king, (King Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu), as head of state. As a result, the IFP abstained from registering its party for the election (a necessity in order to receive votes) in opposition. However, once it became obvious that its efforts were not going to stop the election (the IFP's desired goal), the party was registered. However, due to their opposition to the constitution, concessions were made and KwaZulu/Natal (and thus all the other provinces as well) were granted double ballots for provincial and national legislatures, great provincial powers, the inclusion of 'KwaZulu' in the official name of the province and recognition of specific ethnic and tribal groups within Natal.

On election day, the IFP displayed its political strength by taking the majority of the votes for KwaZulu/Natal.

Post-Apartheid politics

After the dismantling of apartheid system in 1994, the IFP formed an uneasy coalition in KwaZulu/Natal with their traditional political rival, the ANC. This coalition was to last until 2004 when the IFP joined the Democratic Alliance, the major opposition party/coalition to the currently dominant ANC.

The ANC-IFP rivalry, characterised by sporadic acts of political violence, has been firm since 1994. In 2004, while campaigning in Vulindlela, an IFP bastion in the Pietermaritzburg-Midlands region, Thabo Mbeki was reportedly debarred by an IPF-affiliated traditional leader in Mafunze. Previously the stronghold of Moses Mabhida, this area has long been the site of heated clashes between the parties.[1]

The IFP seeks to resolve a number of South African issues, especially the AIDS crisis, in addition to addressing, "unemployment, crime, poverty and corruption and prevent the consolidation of a one-party state" (IFP official website). The "prevention of a one-party state" is with regards to the ruling ANC, which is perceived by many as making efforts to undemocratically consolidate power for their own party. The IFP also states that "Our proposals are designed to give people control over their lives: a hand up, not a hand down. Social justice for all. We also have the political will to deal effectively with these problems."

Gavin Woods report

Gavin Woods, one of the party's most respected MPs, drew up a highly critical 11 page internal discussion document[2] at the request of the parliamentary caucus after a discussion in October 2004. In it he said that the IFP

has no discernible vision, mission or philosophical base, no clear national ambitions or direction, no articulated ideological basis and offers little in the way of current, vibrant original and relevant policies. Woods also warned the party that it must treat Buthelezi as the leader of a political party and not the political party itself.

Woods pinpointed 1987 as the year when the IFP started losing ground as a political force. Before 1987, Woods contends, the party had a strong, unambiguous national identity.

At the first caucus discussion, Woods read out the 11-page paper in full and caucus members were generally positive about its frank nature. IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi was absent from that meeting but raised it at a meeting of the party's national council, which Woods did not attend.

At a subsequent caucus meeting where both were present, Buthelezi read from a prepared statement attacking Woods. All the numbered copies were ordered to be "shredded" but some survived.

Elections

2009

Political violence

The IFP's build-up to the 2009 general elections was marked by a resurgence in its long-standing feud with the ANC, which had decided to adopt more proactive campaigning tactics in Natal. The IFP election manifesto was accordingly sharply critical of the ruling party, its policies and its executive, with the Zimbabwean crisis, and the shoddy mediation of the ANC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), drawing peculiar attention. In a press statement dated 26 January, party official Ben Skosana wrote,

SADC leadership including President Motlanthe may have to face the reality that ZANU PF military and Police may be playing a much stronger role than the politicians in this crisis and need to engage them in the negotiations for the future of Zimbabwe.[3]

There were frequent bouts of electoral violence between the parties in the build-up to the polls, particularly in Natal. On 8 April, at 21:16, the IFP issued a press statement accusing ANC members of assaulting Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, its Natal Premier candidate and National Chairperson, in the Gamalakhe township of Port Shepstone, a historical melting pot for IFP-ANC tensions. The incident began, according to the report, when some fifty ANC backers, in flagrant contravention of the Electoral Code of Conduct, disrupted an official IFP event and hurled abuse at the party's representatives and supporters. The report added that the South African Police Service had to be called in to escort the dignitaries out of harm's away.[4]

Although the IFP circulated its complaint amongst numerous websites[5][6][7] and posted it on its official website,[8] a Google search for the terms "kaMagwaza-Msibi" and "Gamalakhe" yields not a single independent source.[9]

This event, whether it happened or not, followed a similar disruption by ANC supporters — IFP provincial secretary Bonginkosi Buthelezi put their number at more than 500[10] — in Greytown the previous Sunday, when they barricaded a road leading into the Nhlakanhle township and stoned IFP motor vehicles. Injuries were sustained by, among others, the Mayor of the Umzinyathi District Municipality, Mbangiseni Yengwa. The IFP reported both incidents to the SAPS and Independent Electoral Commission, accusing the ruling party of intimidation, assault and denying it its right to campaign freely, and expected "exemplary" action to be taken.[10]

According to Bonginkosi Buthelezi, the stoning happened in full view of the police, who failed in their duty to restore order. He added that the ANC members concerned had defied their own party leadership, claiming that the ANC regional chairperson in the Bhambatha area, Philani Mavundla, had made a failed attempt to reign in the crowd. "An impasse followed and lasted approximately two hours. Having been abandoned by the SAPS, the IFP delegation dispersed and found its way out of the ambush on its own," he added.[11] The IFP also laid charges of malicious damage to private property and public violence at the Greytown police station. Police spokesperson Superintendent Sipho Maphalala confirmed the incident: "The case was opened and we are investigating."[11]

IEC spokesperson Mawethu Mosery said that the IEC was deeply concerned at the increased violence and intimidation, and hoped that the parties would seek means of politically tolerant electioneering in the build-up to the elections. "The IFP reported the incident, and we will look into the matter. Political parties need to be aware that intimidation does not help them to retain votes they have in particular area [sic], nor get new ones. It just doesn't work like that," he said.[11]

Fraud charges at uMhlabuyalingana

On 9 April, the IFP reacted with alarm to reports that its uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality had accumulated unaccounted-for monies of some R3,000,000. It promised to react strongly, and called for a forensic audit. "Our party will get to the bottom of this," said Professor Themba Msimang, chairman of its Policy Oversight Committee (POC), "and, if heads have to roll, so be it: they will."[12]

Final drive

Mangosuthu Buthelezi and KaMagwaza-Msibi hosted the party's final pre-election news conference on Tuesday, 14 April, at Northwood Crusaders Sports Club, Durban North, where they adumbrated their ten-point plan for the party's first 100 days back in provincial power. Also launched was the SIZONQOBA campaign, the IFP's final election drive for the province.[13]

Worst-ever performance

The IFP performed unprecedentedly poorly at the polls, taking just 4.55 per cent of the national vote and coming nowhere near victory in Natal. This prompted widespread speculation in the media that its days as a political force were numbered. Far-famed cartoonist Zapiro took the opportunity to lampoon its long-serving leader with the tag "just about finished",[14] while other reports had it that KaMagwaza-Msibi was suffering ill health.

Post-election efforts

On 3 May, in a bid to address its problems and dispel media rumours about the well-being of its national chairperson, the IFP announced that KaMagwaza-Msibi would host several post-election rallies in addition to the many public meetings she is already chairing across Natal to thank all those who voted IFP. As of 3 May, her itinerary had covered Zululand, Amajuba and eThekwini.

The IFP also announced that, rather than lead the party as official opposition in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, KaMagwaza-Msibi had opted to stay on as Mayor of the Zululand District Municipality as part of efforts to revive the IFP's grassroots support ahead of the 2011 local government elections. "The party's post-election priority is the need to accelerate service delivery at local level rather than play opposition politics," she announced after consulting at length with the party's internal structures.[15]

Election results

Election Votes % Seats
2009 804,260 4.55 18
2004 1,088,664 6.97 28
1999 1,371,477 8.58 34
1994 2,058,294 10.54 43

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Olifant and Khumalo 2009.
  2. ↑ "IFP has 'no mission, no vision'". http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_1750778,00.html. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
  3. ↑ Skosana 2009.
  4. ↑ IFP "ANC Members Attack IFP Premier Candidate in Port Shepstone" (IFP Press Release 2009).
  5. ↑ IFP "ANC Members Attack IFP Premier Candidate in Port Shepstone" (media.co.za 2009).
  6. ↑ IFP "IEC must reconsider ANC's eligibility for 2009 elections - IFP" 2009.
  7. ↑ IFP "IFP: Statement by the Inkatha Freedom Party on the attack of its Premier candidate in Port Shepstone (08/04/2009) 2009.
  8. ↑ IFP "ANC Members Attack IFP Premier Candidate in Port Shepstone" (Inkatha Freedom Party 2009).
  9. ↑ Google 2009.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Mbuyazi 2009.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Quoted in Mbuyazi 2009.
  12. ↑ IFP "IFP Calls for Forensic Audit into uMhlabuyalingana Municipality" 2009.
  13. ↑ IFP. "IFP to Outline Plans for First 100 Days in Power in KZN" 2009.
  14. ↑ Zapiro 2009.
  15. ↑ IFP "IFP National Chair to Hold More Post-Election Rallies" 2009.

References

External links

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