IFP slams Fikile Mbalula over traditional leaders claim

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) says ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula should be ashamed of himself for saying the ANC is the only party that has done anything for traditional leaders.

The party says Mbalula’s misguided attempt at electioneering is nothing to boast about because traditional leaders still don’t enjoy the support and respect they deserve from the ANC after 30 years into democracy.

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TRADITIONAL LEADERS SHOULD HAVE A ROLE IN DEMOCRATIC SA: IFP

“From the very start, during constitutional negotiations towards democracy, the IFP insisted that the Zulu monarch and the institution of Ubukhosi should be recognised and have a role in a democratic South Africa.”

“The ANC, on the other hand, refused to even allow the King a seat at the negotiating table,” said Mkhuleko Hlengwa, the IFP Member of Parliament (MP) and national spokesperson.

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TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP AT THE CENTRE OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE STRATEGY

He said the IFP has pushed for the role, powers, and functions of traditional leaders to be defined in legislation for many years, while the ANC responded by barring most traditional leaders from attending municipal council meetings.

“The IFP has consistently placed traditional leadership at the centre of its local governance strategy. The ANC has used traditional leaders to (in its own words) “make further inroads in rural areas,” Hlengwa said.

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INGONYAMA TRUST CREATED TO KEEP LAND UNDER TRADITIONAL LEADERS SAYS IFP

He said the IFP’s founder created the Ingonyama Trust to keep the land of the Zulu Kingdom under the custodianship of the King, administered by traditional leaders.

“The ANC has called for the Ingonyama Trust to be scrapped so that an ANC-led Government can own the land instead.”