MEMBERS of the IFP Youth Brigade pushing for a shake-up in the party's leadership will have to wait for six months to see the changes they are demanding.

MEMBERS of the IFP Youth Brigade pushing for a shake-up in the party's leadership will have to wait for six months to see the changes they are demanding.

This is the decision arrived at during a two-day IFP national council closed-door meeting in Ulundi at the weekend.

Party leaders agreed that they would convene a political and elective annual general conference in April next year to discuss the IFP's political direction after a spate of youth protests.

The national council resolved that IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi should remain the unifying leader of the party and to ensure a smooth and democratic succession transition when the time was ripe.

The council also agreed to support national chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi for re-election should the party membership demand that.

Party general secretary Musa Zondi has said repeatedly that he will not stand against Buthelezi.

Members of the party are divided over Magwaza-Msibi and Zondi, who have been tipped to take over from Buthelezi.