MEDIA STATEMENT
BY THE
INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
SADESMO's Online Letter - Students Today
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"STUDENTS TODAY" Heita Mzansi, a friend of mine, made an interesting observation on Facebook recently, she said: "It's amazing when strangers become friends, but it's sad when friends become strangers. I met you as a stranger and now I have you as a friend." I am particularly moved with the sentiments that this statement echoes when I reflect on what has been happening in the IFP over the past year. The IFP suffered a gruelling defeat in the 2009 general elections and many factors contributed to that, of which I will not dwell on today. But I must stress that not a single member of the IFP should dare absolve themselves from our party's shortfall; if blame is due then all of us should shoulder it, for had it been that we had succeeded then all of us would have embraced that success. It is unfair that our dismal showing in the election is being pinned on an individual, as has been the case recently. We approached the 2009 elections as a collective, and we campaigned hard; but obviously not hard enough. The forthcoming 2011 Local Government elections provide us with the opportunity to make right what went wrong in 2009, but that will not be possible if we are not united and when some of our party structures are in their current state of disarray. The situation has gotten out of hand simply because certain comrades do not want to adhere to the Party constitution and its due processes, and are dead-set on achieving change through foreign and questionable means. The battle for positions has clouded our sense of friendship at the cost of our core convictions, beliefs and values. The IFP needs change. The IFP needs "transformative change" not "substitutive change". This is a fact that none of us can deny. Yet we have been at each others throats and have brought the IFP to its knees, ironically because of an issue that we all agree on. The debate we ought to be engaging is on what should change and how it should be achieved. The rhetoric that the IFP needs change needs to be unpacked and vigorously debated. The challenge though is that the ructions in the Party have hindered the prospects of such a debate and the positive implementation of the Vuk'uzithathe Campaign. I am reminded by SADESMO's Midnight Declaration of 21 February 2010 where we said "we have arrived at the solid conclusion that the IFP, for its own good, needs now, more than ever before the leadership of PRINCE DR. INKOSI MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI. To this end we propose that Shenge should continue leading the IFP. We are aware that Prince Mangosuthu has indicated that he will consult with family before arriving at a decision on this matter, we hope he will arrive a a decision favourable to our pronouncements." We still maintain this view because South Africa needs the IFP- and a strong IFP at that. Parallel to that, South Africa needs a changed and adapting IFP. The divisions in the party have alienated comrades from comrades. The IFP most urgently needs to unite, and restore its status as the only credible and viable alternative to the fast failing government. The ground is fertile for the IFP to grow: The ANC alliance is fast crumbling; the DA is bluntly angry at South Africa and seeks to serve only the interests of the minority and people are simply not coping with Cope. And the ID has lost its identity. The succession battle has taken a turn for the worse, and has given rise to strong animosity. Comrades are so blinded and consumed by power hunger, to the extent that they are willing to bring Party activities to a painfully grinding halt, forgetting that 2011 is around the corner. I wish to stress the sentiments which were shared by my friend, that "it's amazing when strangers become friends, but it's sad when friends become strangers. I met you as a stranger and now I have you as a friend", with a hope that our common dedication will be restored and the spirit of comradeship be revived as we trudge forward with unity and purpose to take the IFP and South Africa forward. Yours sincerely, Mkhuleko Hlengwa Mkhuleko Hlengwa |