INFIGHTING and rivalry within the Inkatha Freedom Party forced the party to postpone its Zululand district elections at a tense conference in Ulundi on Saturday.

Rival camps of eDumbe municipality mayor Alsine Hlatshwayo, who was backed by the Friends of VZ KaMagwaza-Msibi, and Abaqulusi mayor George Dlamini, who was supported by delegates in favour of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, clashed.

"Hlatshwayo's body guard, Bheki Ntshangase, who was wearing a '100 percent VZ' T-shirt, started assaulting delegate Zamokuhle Dlamini, who was celebrating Dlamini's victory, and all hell broke loose. Delegates clashed, hurled insults at one another as members wanted to revenge Dlamini's assault," said a source.

IFP provincial secretary Bonginkosi Buthelezi could neither confirm nor deny the incident. "I have heard the rumours from the people who were there but I have not received an official report on what exactly happened. At the moment, I still regard it as rumours until such time that one gets an official report."