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former premier in hot water

COMING CLEAN: IFP national chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi and the party's general secretary Musa Zondi show a united front at yesterday's media briefing in Durban. Pic: THULI DLAMINI. Circa October 2009. © Sowetan.
COMING CLEAN: IFP national chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi and the party's general secretary Musa Zondi show a united front at yesterday's media briefing in Durban. Pic: THULI DLAMINI. Circa October 2009. © Sowetan.

FORMER KwaZulu-Natal premier and senior IFP member Lionel Mtshali will face a disciplinary hearing after his remarks about the future leadership of the party.

This after Mtshali's utterances during the IFP's rally in Ulundi last month, where he referred to the party's general secretary Musa Zondi, as "the next president of the party when Buthelezi retires".

This emerged yesterday during a media briefing addressed by IFP national chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi and, ironically, Zondi, in Durban.

The two addressed the media amid growing speculation that they were both contesting for IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi's position in the party.

They said they called the meeting to "put an end to speculation pertaining to our individual positions and to appeal to members to desist from nominating leadership candidates ahead of the party's annual general conference".

Zondi said: "Mtshali is going to appear before a disciplinary hearing on Monday over his utterances. And though Buthelezi has personally rebuked him, the NEC still wants him to answer."

Showing a united front both leaders said they were concerned about not only the damage that was being inflicted on Buthelezi's leadership, but also upon the reputation of the IFP.

"Reverend Zondi and I would like to jointly appeal to those members and renegades who are nominating either of us ahead of the elective conference to stop doing so. Neither of us will accept nominations ahead of the conference, and we both wish to distance ourselves from these clandestine activities," Magwaza-Msibi said.

"We wish to make it clear that we will not stand by and allow our statesman to be humiliated or his legacy trashed by a few insurgents.

"Their underhand scheming is inimical to the culture of the party which is based on respect and good manners."

On the issue of a "concerned group" calling for the party to change its name, Zondi said: "We can't entertain people who speak on the streets."

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