THE LEADER of the IFP, Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa, has come out publicly and said that he did not prevent a conference to elect the leadership of the party.

Hlabisa said that what has delayed the conference is that they want to make sure that all policies are followed. He said this during an interview with Independent Media newspapers.

The IFP has been holding a leadership conference in 2019. It was at that conference that the founder of the party, King Mangosuthu Buthelezi, handed over the reins to Hlabisa.

The leadership selection conference was supposed to be held in 2024 but was postponed last year, and it was also postponed. Hlabisa said that it is not true that they deliberately made the conference not to take place.

“Some say that we are afraid to call a conference because we are afraid to leave our positions. I have not refused to have a conference, as long as all the policies are followed.”

Hlabisa said it is important to follow all the rules to avoid people challenging the sitting of the conference.

The IFP leadership selection conference will be held once all the terms have been met.

“We don’t want what happened in the Eastern Cape (in the ANC leadership conference). We don’t want a situation where the court will decide on the day of the conference that the conference should not be cancelled, people have traveled long distances saying they came to the conference. When I hear that money is said to have been wasted in the Eastern Cape, I am shocked, I don’t want the same situation to happen to us.”

Hlabisa said there are 600 cemeteries that have not been consecrated.

“These institutions can challenge the sitting of the conference if we choose to leave them out.”

Hlabisa said this weekend there will be meetings in the regions where the remaining centers will be inaugurated. He stated that there will be a national council meeting in the IFP on Monday.

“The national council is the one that takes decisions on whether or not there should be a leadership conference.”

Meanwhile, Hlabisa revealed that he will soon announce the date of local government elections. Hlabisa will be the one to announce the local government elections as he is the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Indigenous Affairs.

The next election will be held between November and January. Hlabisa said he will announce the date before June.

“We want people to say they are going to register to vote in June, and then know where they will be on election day.”

Hlabisa said that he will soon conclude the negotiations regarding the appointment of the election day.

“We are finalizing negotiations with the President (Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa).”