Magwaza loses court bid

The Pietermaritzburg High Court has dismissed with costs an application by IFP national chairwoman Zanele Magwaza-Msibi and three expelled IFP members

Judge Swain read the judgement on behalf of Judge Chima Patel.

He did not give the reasons for ruling against Magwaza-Msibi.

She approached the court to stop the party hauling her before an  inquiry which might result in her expulsion.

Magwaza-Msibi’s application was heard together with that of three other IFP members.

Wiseman Mcoyi, of the “Friends of VZ” group that supports Magwaza-Msibi, Nhlanhla Khawula, and Thokozani Zulu lodged papers in the same court in July challenging their expulsion and the legality of the current party leadership.

The three were expelled from the IFP after they openly campaigned for Magwaza-Msibi.

Magwaza-Msibi also wanted the court to order the party to hold its elective conference, which had been postponed six times since July last year.

Her supporters claim she is being prevented from taking part in the race to succeed current IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

• Magwaza-Msibi’s supporters burnt  party banners outside the High Court after her case was dismissed. They screamed and shouted and set fire to t-shirts with the face  of Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
• On the other side of the court another group of party supporters  was overjoyed by the court’s verdict. “The truth is out in the end. Our chairwoman doesn’t know what she wants and we are pleased about the judgment,” IFP national organiser Albert Mngcwango said.