IFP open to working with MK Party in hung municipalities, says Hlabisa
Hlabisa says the IFP believes the largest party in a coalition should hold the mayoral position, arguing that smaller parties may lack the authority to ensure stable municipal leadership.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Velenkosini Hlabisa has expressed openness to collaborating with the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party in municipal councils where neither party holds an outright majority, according to remarks made in an interview with Newzroom Afrika. Hlabisa emphasized that the IFP would not rule out any political formation from coalition discussions in KwaZulu-Natal or Gauteng, provided the potential partners did not impose unreasonable conditions or jeopardize municipal stability.
The IFP's stance comes as local government elections in 2026 left 127 of the 213 municipal councils in a hung situation, with 34 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, including eThekwini, requiring a coalition to govern. In eThekwini specifically, MK secured 86 of the 223 council seats, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), the African National Congress (ANC), and the IFP.
Hlabisa stressed that the party would prioritize coalition partners who demonstrated a commitment to stable governance and the interests of voters over their own political ambitions. He also outlined the IFP's preference for the party with the most seats to hold the mayoral position, citing the importance of the mayor's authority being linked to the size of their party's caucus.
Hlabisa further defended the delay in coalition legislation, attributing it to legal and constitutional considerations, and stated that stable coalitions could be achieved through political maturity, capacity, and adherence to agreed principles rather than through legislation.
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