Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Velenkosini Hlabisa says the Government of National Unity (GNU) has helped change how the party is perceived by the broader South African electorate.
Hlabisa was speaking to the SABC at the IFP’s 50th Anniversary celebrations in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal, at the weekend.
Hlabisa, who became the party’s leader in 2019, says the party needs to adapt to new political realities as the struggle has changed.
“We want to invest in our youth, in our women because the future belongs to them. The struggle is different from what it has been in the past 50 years. The main struggle now is economic freedom. It’s shaping democracy, deepening democracy in our country, dealing with critical issues; gender-based violence, and people are becoming animals. We need to stop this thing now for a better future going forward,” says Hlabisa.
GNU
The IFP has also found itself as a member of the GNU, along with nine other political parties. Hlabisa acknowledges that this development has given his party more exposure.
“Our participation in the GNU helped the IFP like all other parties because it has been a one-party show, and all others were speaking from outside. Now, people are going to test us, (and) that’s okay. You promised! Are you able to deliver? If you are able to deliver, they will say that they have no reason not to support you because what you say, you are able to deliver, ” he adds.
International Relations
Speaking on international relations, Hlabisa is confident in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s capacity to select the next South African Ambassador to the US following the expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool.
“Ambassadors are at the discretion of the president. And we really do want to respect the powers given to the president. And the president is a very good person. And I’m not saying so because I’m sitting with him in the cabinet, but he is a very good person. He is very good in assessing people to deploy because he’s a diplomat,” says Hlabisa.
The GNU’s clearing house mechanism is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to address the issue of the appointment of the next US ambassador.
Early indications are that the issue may be contentious, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) already throwing its former Leader Tony Leon’s name in the hat.
