IFP leader goes to court to stop elections
Inkatha Freedom Party president Mangosuthu Buthelezi has approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court to stop the upcoming traditional council elections.
IFP president Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Photo: Thembinkosi Dwayisa
We respect Buthelezi and we don't doubt his commitment to development in rural areas as well as entrenchment of democracy
"Buthelezi has notified us of his intention to interdict the elections," said provincial co-operative governance department spokesman Lennox Mabaso.
The matter is expected to be heard on February 15, just four days before the elections.
It was reported on Thursday that Buthelezi, the chief of the Buthelezi clan, wants the elections to be held later this year to allow for proper preparations. He wants a voter's roll to be prepared before the elections.
Traditional council elections are part of the government's attempts to instil democratic principles in traditional governance, because it plays an important role in South Africa's multi-cultural society.
Under the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, only 60 percent of the council's members are appointed by the senior traditional leader. The rest must be democratically elected.
Mabaso said he hoped the matter would be resolved before the elections. People needed to prepare themselves for the elections, he said.
"We respect Buthelezi and we don't doubt his commitment to development in rural areas as well as entrenchment of democracy."
Mabaso said only registered people would be allowed to vote.
"People will also vote in voting stations where they registered to vote," he said.
"There were two voter registration periods. The voter registration dates were announced in the media and the voting stations were published in newspapers," he said.
sekhebereshe
wow IFP is still alive..? to me the IFP is just a dying horse kicking to get attention...Buthelezi and his crew must go to sleep!Report Abuse
Phunyukabemphethe
Buthelezi must go, ake udedele abanye uyabona ukuthi usebenzela ithuna njeReport Abuse
LijahaSisu
Gatja is trying to bring his undemocratic IFP tendencies to the traditional council now. I hope the court tell him to go and shave.Report Abuse
Zulumacansi
In 1993 there was a musical group called Abazolozi. They released a song which went like this;Nizwile yini ukuthi
Indoda yebheshu
Yayomangala enkosini
Lafi' icala laylahla.
This piece of music coincided with the IFP's legal challenge to the Codesa talks wherein they were challenging the legality of "sufficient consensus, and they were opposed to the unitary state"
Report Abuse
Fizas
these elections or interdiction thereof has nothing to do but Gatsha on his personal capacity as a chief - Sowetan why then bring IFP to it coz now you miled readers thus they going on and on about IFP (which will soon be non existant)Report Abuse
