IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi says he is ready to step down as the party's leader but insists he "would be a coward" if he left the party facing its current problems.
The IFP has been experiencing an exodus of senior leaders while membership has dwindled so much in recent years that the party lost control of KwaZulu-Natal and, recently, many municipalities in the province.
Flanked by national executive council members, Buthelezi said he could not leave the IFP under the current situation.
"A lot of damage has been done to the IFP. I need to step aside, like all other people of my age, but I can't leave when the party is facing so much challenges. I would be a coward if I leave now. I have not decided to continue but at the same time I am forced to stay on because of the problems faced by the IFP. I am caught between a rock and a hard place," said Buthelezi.
Buthelezi was responding to claims that he was clinging to power.
"I built the IFP. I have to deal with the problems currently affecting the organisation because you can't build a house and when it is on fire, you run away. I would be a coward if I do that," he said.
Last week, former leader of the SA Democratic Students Movement (an IFP-aligned student organisation), Chris Ntuli, described the party as a "big undemocratic monster".
Ntuli said the problem facing the IFP was that it took so long to change its leadership and that it was led by a "cabal of less than six people known as the core group".
Buthelezi has admitted that the "core group" does exist.
"Yes, a core group does exist. It was set up before the 2009 general election. It was a pre-election think-tank.
"Its mandate was to see to all aspects of the running of the 2009 election. It was not a group or a clique that centralises decisions and pulls me by the nose," Buthelezi said.
He also took the opportunity to clarify some internal problems, including allegations that there were irreconcilable differences between the IFP Youth Brigade and the party.
"The allegations are an obvious fabrication and the creation of people who do not wish the Inkatha Freedom Party well," Buthelezi said.
It was also alleged that the IFP was spearheading a process that allows Buthelezi to hand - pick people for leadership positions instead of leaving this to the next elective conference.
"That is absolutely preposterous. These false allegations are a deliberate attempt by some rogue elements to misrepresent 'the road map', a draft internal discussion document aimed at creating a smooth leadership transition.
"The road map, which takes into consideration recent developments in the IFP, is only a discussion document. It is not my product. Rather, it is a response to the concerns articulated by IFP structures themselves," Buthelezi said.
Buthelezi ready to step down... but party faces problems
IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi says he is ready to step down as the party's leader but insists he "would be a coward" if he left the party facing its current problems.
The IFP has been experiencing an exodus of senior leaders while membership has dwindled so much in recent years that the party lost control of KwaZulu-Natal and, recently, many municipalities in the province.
Flanked by national executive council members, Buthelezi said he could not leave the IFP under the current situation.
"A lot of damage has been done to the IFP. I need to step aside, like all other people of my age, but I can't leave when the party is facing so much challenges. I would be a coward if I leave now. I have not decided to continue but at the same time I am forced to stay on because of the problems faced by the IFP. I am caught between a rock and a hard place," said Buthelezi.
Buthelezi was responding to claims that he was clinging to power.
"I built the IFP. I have to deal with the problems currently affecting the organisation because you can't build a house and when it is on fire, you run away. I would be a coward if I do that," he said.
Last week, former leader of the SA Democratic Students Movement (an IFP-aligned student organisation), Chris Ntuli, described the party as a "big undemocratic monster".
Ntuli said the problem facing the IFP was that it took so long to change its leadership and that it was led by a "cabal of less than six people known as the core group".
Buthelezi has admitted that the "core group" does exist.
"Yes, a core group does exist. It was set up before the 2009 general election. It was a pre-election think-tank.
"Its mandate was to see to all aspects of the running of the 2009 election. It was not a group or a clique that centralises decisions and pulls me by the nose," Buthelezi said.
He also took the opportunity to clarify some internal problems, including allegations that there were irreconcilable differences between the IFP Youth Brigade and the party.
"The allegations are an obvious fabrication and the creation of people who do not wish the Inkatha Freedom Party well," Buthelezi said.
It was also alleged that the IFP was spearheading a process that allows Buthelezi to hand - pick people for leadership positions instead of leaving this to the next elective conference.
"That is absolutely preposterous. These false allegations are a deliberate attempt by some rogue elements to misrepresent 'the road map', a draft internal discussion document aimed at creating a smooth leadership transition.
"The road map, which takes into consideration recent developments in the IFP, is only a discussion document. It is not my product. Rather, it is a response to the concerns articulated by IFP structures themselves," Buthelezi said.
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