The creation of provinces and municipalities was championed by the Inkatha Freedom Party during the Convention for a Democratic South Africa talks (Codesa).
The multi-party talks which paved the way for the country’s first democratic elections in 1994 took place in 1992 in Kempton Park in Gauteng.
Addressing thousands of party supporters who came out in big numbers to celebrate the party’s 50th year anniversary in Ulundi north of KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, president Velenkosini Hlabisa reminded people that if it wasn’t for the party and its founder inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi who insisted that on federal arrangements during the talks, the country would not be having provinces and municipalities.
Hlabisa said by pushing the federal system, the party wanted the government that would be closer to the people, not a central government who sits far from the people and wields power.
“The idea of provinces and municipalities was championed by us because we always knew that in order to serve people well you must be closer to them so if it wasn’t for prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi we would not be having provinces and municipalities in this country,” said Hlabisa.
The event was attended by the DA provincial leadership which was represented by the party leader Francois Rodgers and its provincial chairperson Dean Macpherson, the party delivered a message of support and congratulated the IFP on its 50th year anniversary. Both parties have a long and standing relationship which emanated from their cooperation in the many municipalities across the province. Both parties are co-governing the province under the government of provincial unity where the DA controls two departments and the deputy speaker’s position.
During Codesa, Buthelezi also pushed for the recognition of traditional leadership, particularly powers of the late king Zwelithini who was the Zulu king at the time. Both ideas were rejected by the ANC, which preferred a more centralised government. The rejection nearly plunged the country into further crisis as Buthelezi threatened to boycott the 1994 elections. The compromise was reached at the last minute and the IFP participated in the elections few days to the election day.
The party was founded in 1975 which Buthelezi led for 44 years until he retired in 2019.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za
