Man and woman in orange shirts. National Freedom Party founding president Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi with then party chairperson Maliyakhe Shelembe. File picture
Durban - Leaders of the National Freedom Party (NFP) have conceded that the decision by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to freeze its funding is hurting the party and makes it difficult to contest elections.
Leaders from the opposing factions within the NFP blamed greed and what they labelled as “stomach” politics from some members and leaders for the divisions that have ravaged the party, which once enjoyed massive support in KwaZulu-Natal.
In September this year, the IEC announced its decision to freeze party funding for the NFP, prompting moves from leaders to hold an elective conference by the end of the year or early 2023.
On Thursday, NFP leader in Parliament Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam said they were still attempting to have an elective conference where a legitimate leadership would emerge.
“The truth is the elective conference cannot take place in 2022. We are looking at July as the time at which such a conference will take place,” said Emam.
He stressed that for the conference to be held, a proper process had to be followed. “We are attempting to take the party to conference, but we need to have a properly audited membership from a credible database so that there is no manipulation that takes place,” said the MP.
However, he dismissed suggestions of a leadership crisis, citing individuals who he said simply wanted to use the party for personal reasons. The MP would not reveal the identity of such individuals.
Canaan Mdletshe also conceded that it would be impossible to hold an elective conference this year, citing a clause in the party’s constitution which states that members should be notified about the elective conference six months prior.
He noted how the party had missed out in actively contesting the numerous by-elections which have been held since the new councils were formed last year.
“Basically, contesting the by-election amounts to walking through the desert without a single drop of water. It is only hope that enables you to keep on walking,” said Mdletshe.
He expressed optimism that the party would have a properly elected leadership next year.
The NFP was founded by Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, the former national chairperson in the IFP, in 2011, following her expulsion from the IFP.
In that year’s local government elections it won a number of seats in municipalities in KZN and managed to unseat the IFP in some councils.
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