Zanele to resign today

ZANELE Magwaza-Msibi, the national chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party, is expected to announce her resignation from the IFP today to focus on her new party - the National Freedom Party.

The NFP has been registered with the Independent Electoral Commission to contest the coming local government elections in all nine provinces.

But it is in KwaZulu-Natal where it is likely to make its presence felt, with dismissed IFP members campaigning against their former party.

eDumbe municipality mayor Mpiyakhe Hlatshwayo, who was expelled by the IFP but later reinstated by councillors, said the formation of a new political party would be a "springboard to change people's lives".

Hlatshwayo said: "The formation of the new party will be a balm that heals all wounds.

"By joining it we will be showing that we do not accept the sjambok anymore. We will certainly take all five municipalities under the Zululand district municipality."

Former uMtshezi municipality mayor Maliyakhe Shelembe said if indeed Magwaza-Msibi launched the new party it would be bad news for, among others, Abaqulusi mayor George Dlamini, who is also the IFP's Zululand district chairperson.

Magwaza-Msibi enjoys huge support from the IFP-aligned student movement Sadesmo, religious leaders and traditional leaders.

Addressing her supporters in Vryheid on Saturday, she invited people and councillors from other political organisations such as the ANC and the DA to join her.

Meanwhile, former Eastern Cape provincial organiser Nyaniso Mfihlo, who was also dismissed by the IFP, said Magwaza-Msibi was going to Eastern Cape on Thursday to meet King Buyelekhaya Dalinjyebo.

On Friday she will be at Cofimvaba to meet amakhosi from Western Tembuland and address supporters at eNkondlo in eNgcobo on Saturday.

"People from Eastern Cape are looking forward to meeting her," Mfihlo said.

"They see her as an active woman who can make things happen for them and we expect huge crowds."