IFP, ActionSA campaigns moving into high gear

THE IFP says it has continued to use the image of its founder and former president Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi on material for its election campaign because a resolution to do so was taken at a party conference in 2019.

In a media briefing to highlight the party’s state of readiness ahead of the November 1 local government elections, IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said that using Buthelezi’s face in the party’s campaign was not undermining the party’s incumbent president.

Hlengwa said that the party had intended to dedicate 2020 to Buthelezi but was forced to shelve that plan due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the party leadership had decided to pay homage to Buthelezi in 2021. “The leadership responded to its plans by saying that the face of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi will be used in tandem with that of the leadership of the party in general, and this was a proposal that had come from the president of the IFP.

“We are paying homage and tribute to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi for the work that he has done and the work that he continues to do and as we are launching our manifesto some of these things will be clarified. President (Velenkosini) Hlabisa is not a stooge president, he is the president of the IFP and he continues to do the work of the president of the IFP,” Hlengwa said.

Meanwhile, the leader of African Democratic Change (ADeC) and mayoral candidate for eThekwini Municipality, Visvin Reddy, said yesterday that if the party won the elections, it would create jobs, safer communities and ensure that the utility billing system worked efficiently for Durban residents. The former DA member, who was elected as the national leader of ADeC just over two years ago, said he was encouraged by the level of support the party had been getting.

“We are not a racial political movement, we are a political party that seeks change for everybody. And the past few episodes that we experienced have taught us that the people we elect must be of sound mind.

“So, in Durban, the first thing we are going to do is to stop these illegal connections. Illegal connections must be a thing of the past in Durban. The next thing Durban needs is R8 billion to repair the ageing infrastructure like water pipes. Our people are inconvenienced with these water cuts.”

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said that his party was “the solution” if citizens wanted to wage a war against corruption. Speaking at the party’s manifesto launch in Johannesburg yesterday, Mashaba said his messagewas that hope was not lost and that they were adequately prepared to “fix” South Africa.

“Do you want a war waged against corruption? Do you want mayors who work night and day to make sure your businesses thrive and jobs are growing? Do you want electricity, water, roads delivered where residents have never had the dignity of these services? Then this is your team,” said Mashaba.