NATIONAL Freedom Party members in AbaQulusi say it is very likely that the IFP has sabotaged the party’s ability to contest the upcoming elections.
The NFP was disqualified from participating in the elections after failing to pay its registration fees to the IEC on time.
In an exclusive interview with the Vryheid Herald, NFP district executive member, Sizwe Hadebe, and chairperson of the NFP’s AbaQulusi constituency, Jabulani Xulu, say it is very suspicious that IFP leader, Mongosuthu Buthelezi, expressed sympathy with the plight of the NFP, at first, then sent senior legal representatives to the Electoral Court on Friday to contest the NFP’s appeal to be allowed to participate in the elections.
While the NFP has not ruled out the possibility that the late payment to the IEC might have been a technical or administrative glitch, a growing number of party members believe that the IFP is behind what happened.
They are now hopeful that the Constitutional Court will overrule the Electoral Court’s decision to disqualify the NFP from contesting the upcoming elections.
“We are still campaigning as vigorously as we were before and we are still having meetings because this is not the end of the road,” said Cllr Hadebe, who is also the Deputy Mayor of AbaQulusi.
“The NFP has a lot of support in AbaQulusi and our membership has grown tremendously. We were positive that we were going to take 13 wards in the next election and we were hopeful of an outright majority in the council. People are sick of the IFP, as they have been here a number of years and did not perform. The ANC has been here for five years and they are not moving forward. Now, individuals who believe in the NFP, and who have chosen to vote NFP, should have the right to do so.”
“We are very sad about what is happening in our party and we hope the Constitutional Court will rule in our favour so the right of the people to choose which party will lead AbaQulusi will be fulfilled,” added Mr Xulu.
“Our motto is, ‘Forward ever, backward never.’ We will not be taken in by any other party regardless of the Court’s decision. We will remain NFP in dark times and in light.”
“If the IFP and their dirty tricks succeed, the party will continue to exist and we will be gunning for new members, the same as before,” agreed Cllr Hadebe.
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