MEDIA STATEMENT
BY THE
INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
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11 September 2007 At a press conference at the IFP's Head Office in Durban today, Mrs Zanele Magwaza-Msibi, IFP National Chairperson, welcomed six of the new members who had joined its ranks during the floor crossing period. They are: Raveen Nankoomar, formerly of the MF (Hibiscus Coast Municipality), Seze Tobias Gumede, formerly of NADECO (Mbonambi Municiplaity), Mbongeni Bhekumthetho Myeni, formerly of NADECO (Umhlatuze Municiplaity), Senzo Masuku, formerly of NADECO (Mtubatuba Municipality), Bongiwe Benedicta Zwane, formerly of the ANC (Zululand District Municipality) and Jabulani Philemon Ngwenya, formerly of the ANC (Uphongolo Municipality). Mrs Magwaza-Msibi said: "Welcome to all members of the media present here today. Thank you for taking the time out from your busy schedules to come to this press conference. In this age of technology where information is readily available through the internet and interviews are possible over the phone your physical presence here today means so much to me. It shows a deep commitment to your chosen profession for which I am extremely grateful. This press conference finds us in the midst of what I call the "silly season" of politics in South Africa. It allows political parties, without the mandate of not even one single voter, to be founded and indeed enables the very same political party a "free ride" into legislatures and councils throughout the land. There are many democratic countries in which floor crossing exists. Germany is a prime example. BUT in the German model, for example, floor crossing legislation exists within a constituency based electoral system. Another very interesting feature of the German model is that although floor crossing does exist all political parties have agreed not to accept defectors, a gentlemen's agreement if you like, which results in floor crossing being null and void in that country. In South Africa, however, the situation is entirely different. The sad reality is that even amongst opposition and minority parties this practice is flagrant. Indeed some political parties owe their entire existence to floor crossing without which they would be non-starters while other political parties are destroyed through the process. The IFP consequently finds itself in an invidious position. We are aware that the ANC is hell-bent on trying to gain power in IFP controlled municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal through floor crossing. Indeed, Premier Sbu Ndebele is on record for having said so. As a result we have decided to accept, without coercion or bribery, all those who chose to come to the IFP in this period. The IFP is facing a total ANC onslaught in KwaZulu-Natal. The people you see before you here today are smart people because they recognise the danger and have decided to do something about it. They have decided to act to save democracy. They have elected to come to the IFP in full recognition of the imperfection of the law, which allows them to do so, but fully conscious of their role in saving KwaZulu-Natal from ANC tyranny. We therefore sincerely thank each and every one of you here today who have come to help the IFP in our bid to stop the ANC's master plan." She concluded: "Now that you have joined the IFP know that there is plenty hard work to go around for all of us. I look forward to working together with you in ensuring that the people of South Africa benefit from our participation. We welcome you into the IFP family and extend our pledge of honour, service and delivery to each of you. Welcome, comrades, welcome. " She then informed the media that there would be more announcements of this nature made in the short term! Contact: |