Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP; Zulu: IQembu leNkatha yeNkululeko) is a right-wing political party in South Africa. Although registered as a national party, it has had only minor electoral success outside its home province of KwaZulu-Natal. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who served as chief minister of KwaZulu during the Apartheid period, founded the party in 1975 and led it until 2019. He was succeeded as party president in 2019 by Velenkosini Hlabisa.
Inkatha Freedom Party IQembu leNkatha yeNkululeko (Zulu) | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | IFP |
| President | Velenkosini Hlabisa |
| Chairperson | MB Gwala |
| Secretary-General | Siphosethu Ngcobo |
| Spokesperson | Mkhuleko Hlengwa |
| Deputy President | Inkosi Buthelezi |
| Deputy Secretary-General | Albert Mncwango |
| Treasurer-General | Narend Singh |
| Deputy Chairperson | Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa |
| Parliamentary leader | Velenkosini Hlabisa |
| Founder | Mangosuthu Buthelezi |
| Founded | 21 March 1975 |
| Headquarters | 2 Durban Club Place Durban KwaZulu-Natal |
| Student wing | South African Democratic Students Movement |
| Ideology | Conservatism Anti-communism Ubuntu philosophy Constitutional monarchism Factions: KwaZulu-Natal regionalism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| National affiliation | Multi-Party Charter |
| Continental affiliation | Democrat Union of Africa |
| International affiliation | International Democrat Union |
| Colours | Red |
| National Assembly seats | 14 / 400 |
| NCOP seats | 2 / 90 |
| Provincial Legislatures | 14 / 430 |
| Party flag | |
| Website | |
| www | |
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During the first decade of the post-Apartheid period, the IFP received over 90% of its support from ethnic Zulus. Since then, the party has worked to increase its national support by promoting social and economic conservative policies. In the 2019 general election, the IFP came in fourth place nationally, winning 3.38% of the vote and 14 seats in the National Assembly.