Lerato Mbhiza
KwaZulu-Natal IFP chairperson Thami Ntuli is the party’s premier candidate for the national and provincial elections.
Ntuli, the mayor of King Cetshwayo District Municipality and chairperson of the South African Local Government Association in the province, is believed to be unanimously backed by the party’s national council.
The party lost control of the province in 2004, and since then the ANC has been in charge, and Sbu Ndebele was the first ANC premier to lead the province, followed by Zweli Mkhize in 2009 until 2013.
Senzo Mchunu then took over in 2013 and was succeeded by Willies Mchunu in 2016. Sihle Zikalala took over in 2019 and in 2022, was replaced by current premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
But the IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa said on Monday that they were ready to take over the province from the ANC in the elections expected to be held in the next few months.
“Following this weekend’s work and the enormous body of preparation that came before it, I am pleased to say that the IFP is ready for the 2024 elections. Our campaign is well under way, our structures have been mobilised, and we have completed all the necessary processes. We are ready for this election and more than ready to receive the mandate of the electorate”.
The IFP’s campaign in KwaZulu-Natal is focused on restoring an honest and working government in this province.
“We therefore seek to give KZN the best possible candidate to run for premier. Our candidate is Arthur Thamsanqa Ntuli. We believe that he is most equipped, experienced, and committed to the task of good governance in KZN,” said Hlabisa.
He said the elections should be a turning point for the people of KZN.
The IFP will also launch its election manifesto at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 10 March.
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