By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Velinkosi Hlabisa outlined the party’s manifesto commitments of providing better basic services, creating jobs, alleviating poverty as well as uplifting the youth.
Hlabisa was addressing hundreds of supporters at the party’s final rally held at the uMhlathuze Central Sports Complex in Richards Bay, north of KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday.
The IFP aims to retain its grip on the uMhlathuze Local Municipality which serves as the economic hub of northern KZN.
Thousands of supporters are being bussed in. Given that the municipality is currently under IFP governance, the party hopes to retain its power in this once-African National Congress (ANC) stronghold.
In 2021, the IFP managed to clinch control of the municipality, after joining forces with the Democratic Alliance (DA) to oust the ANC’s reign over the hotly-contested region.
This will be the first election the IFP will contest without party stalwart Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi after his death last September.
Hlabisa maintained that the IFP’s policies provide solutions to all problems affecting the country.
“What our country needs to hear is that there is a way out. There are people who will lead the country and the people of South Africa to safety. That is what sets us apart from others. When the IFP speaks, we speak the truth. Over the past two months, since we launched our manifesto, the IFP has been engaging all South Africans on our solid plan to rebuild South Africa,” he said.
Speaking on the scourge of youth unemployment, Hlabisa indicated that they were committed to creating jobs for unemployed graduates and empowering them with skills should the IFP come into government after the elections.
“It’s our commitment to roll out the unemployed graduate grant of R3000 for a fixed period to enable those already equipped with the skill to enter the labour market and grow our economy to find meaningful work,” he said.
Hlabisa also highlighted that should the party be voted into power, it will end load shedding.
“We will transform the energy sector in our country and we will endeavour to reduce the cost of fuel by de-linking the RAF levies and other government taxes from the petrol price. It is time that our country moves over through a just energy transition,” he added.
Hlabisa futher questioned the timing and intentions of president Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the NHI bill, mere days before the election. Also throwing shade at his choosing of now listening to experts whom he has previously given the cold shoulder.
“The question is, why did the president sign this bill into law on the eve of the election, and all of a sudden he is now willing to listen to the experts?”
He further, emphasised that the IFP believes in universal healthcare, but maintained that the NHI is fundamentally flawed.
Moreover, Hlabisa expressed concerns about the potential for corruption and mismanagement in the state-administered single fund, which will maintain the country’s health care resources.
He then called for the decentralisation of universal health care so that that a great amount of control can be handed to provinces so as to precisely and accurately fit people’s needs where they are.