IN the wake of upheavals within the IFP, its national executive committee has asked president Mangosuthu Buthelezi to continue to lead.

He admitted that his party was ravaged by factionalism, with some pitting him against Zanele Magwaza-Msibi, national party chairperson, for party leadership.

Addressing IFP members in Inkandla at the weekend, Buthelezi said he would respond to the NEC's proposal in October.

This is likely to cause further division in the IFP since he was expecting to be serving his last term as president.

The IFP youth has called for a change in leadership, and some were expelled from the party over this.

As to who should take over - members are divided between Magwaza-Msibi and general secretary Musa Zondi.

The party's elective conference will be held May.

Buthelezi also lashed out at the media, saying the party had seen "brown envelope" journalism at its worst.