New party to challenge IFP mooted

RUMOURS are rife in KwaZulu-Natal that a new political party is on the cards, to be formed by former IFP leaders expelled from the party

It is also speculated that the new party, to be called the New Freedom Party, will be led by IFP national chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi.

Sowetan has learnt that those at the forefront of establishing the party were waiting for the court to make its ruling on the application by Magwaza-Msibi and three others to force the IFP to hold an elective conference and to stop the party from hauling Magwaza-Msibi into an inquiry which may result in her expulsion.

The Pietermaritzburg high court was expected to make a ruling in November last year, but postponed the matter indefinitely.

"If the court does not make a ruling before or on January 15, we go our way and launch a new party," said a source.

But one of the people who made the court application and a staunch supporter of Magwaza-Msibi, Wiseman Mcoyi, vehemently denied that they were planning to start a new party.

"There were opinions like that, which were raised during some of our open meetings but were unanimously rejected because to establish a new party one needs R10million," he said.

Mcoyi said they wanted the courts to help them reclaim the IFP.

"That is why we made it clear (in court papers) that we want an elective conference to be held soon. The judge has delayed us by two months already. But we hope that a ruling will be made before January 15," said Mcoyi.

University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu warned that it would be Magwaza-Msibi's downfall to establish her own party.

"She commands a huge support within the IFP and it would be wise for her to just hang in there until such time that the party holds its elective conference."

Ndlovu warned that the ructions within the IFP would not be good going into elections in a few months' time.