Velenkosini Hlabisa, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader, has just addressed the media to say that given South Africa’s changing political landscape and a new era of coalition politics, he sees an important role for his party. It is currently in fifth place, with 3.9% of the vote.
“IFP is going to be a game-changer,” he said about the party which draws its support mainly from ethnic Zulus in KwaZulu-Natal province.
“The IFP will make an informed decision in the best interest of people of South Africa – but we are not desperate to get into a coalition for the sake of coalition,” he told journalists at the election results centre.
At a provincial level with 99% of votes counted, the ANC has lost control of the KwaZulu-Natal to ex-President Jacob Zuma’s new MK party, while the IFP has increased its share of the votes from 16% in 2019 to 18% this year.
Nationally the IFP has also slightly increased from the 3.4% it got in 2019.
However, this would not be enough to form a majority with the ANC alone – they would still another partner.
Hlabisa added that he was happy with how the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was handling the counting process, adding he felt calls by various parties for a recount was unnecessary given party agents were present initially.