By Celani Sikhakhane
The IFP sent Princess Phumzile Buthelezi, daughter of the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, to handle the conflict among IFP leaders in uThukela in KZN.
Princess Phumzile visited uThukela on Monday to meet the IFP caucus.
Divisions have delayed the election of a deputy mayor for almost two years since the EFF withdrew from IFP coalitions in the province.
Last week, a council meeting to elect IFP district chairperson Mbuzeleni Cyril Mkhize as deputy mayor was cancelled at the last minute.
The cancellation reportedly came from divisions between two IFP factions: the AU, which supports president Velenkosini Hlabisa, and the Triple K, backing KZN Premier Thami Ntuli to take over the party.
Sources said Monday’s meeting with Princess Phumzile needed more people as some members didn’t attend.
“She arrived on Monday to intervene but did not address the meeting because some of our members never arrived. But on Tuesday, the municipal council meeting continued virtually.
“In that meeting, the deputy mayor issue was not discussed because we were waiting for the IEC [Independent Electoral Commission] to approve the amendment we made on the submission of Mkhize’s name to be part of the council,” a source said.
The IFP plans an elective conference for November.
The party faces divisions in several districts, with uThukela now having three factions supporting Hlabisa, Ntuli, and IFP deputy president Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi respectively.
Attempts to reach Princess Phumzile were unsuccessful.
Pictured above: Princess Phumzile Buthelezi was asked to heal IFP divisions that have delayed the uThukela district deputy mayor election for two years.
Source: X
