Nokukhanya Mntambo31 May 2024 | 5:55

IFP says doesn’t believe Prince Buthelezi’s death will impact poll performance

Prince Buthelezi died almost a year ago at the age of 95, having led the IFP for more than four decades before stepping down from the helm in 2019.

IFP says doesn’t believe Prince Buthelezi’s death will impact poll performance

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi's special official funeral at the Prince Mangosuthu Stadium in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday, 16 September 2023. Picture: Eyewitness News

JOHANNESBURG -The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) says it doesn’t believe the absence of its late former leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi will impact the party’s performance in the current national and provincial elections.

Buthelezi died almost a year ago at the age of 95. He led the IFP for more than four decades before stepping down from the helm in 2019.

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His death sparked concerns about the future of the party.

As the country waits for the results of Wednesday’s polls, IFP spokesperson Mkhuleo Hlengwa said Mangosuthu’s legacy served the party well in its push for power.

“We had to adjust and acclimatise our operations and work, and I think that the agility which we demonstrated has served us in good stead, because we’ve in large part been able to withstand what could have been a catastrophic impact had we not been ready for that. It’s credited to the functionality of structures, and the leadership united in its purpose to take forward the party.”