By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The formation of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in March 1975 by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi stands as one of the pivotal moments in South Africa’s liberation history.
Beyond the political achievements, Buthelezi’s true legacy lies in the quality of his leadership.
He embodied a rare combination of intellectual rigor and emotional intelligence, principled stance and pragmatic flexibility. His famous modesty—often disarming to those expecting the pomp of traditional leadership—masked a formidable intellect and unyielding moral compass.
The IFP’s greatest tribute to its founder would be to demonstrate that his vision was not dependent on his person but can live on as an enduring contribution to South African political culture.
The party celebrated its 50th anniversary in Jabulani Ampithreatre, Soweto on Saturday, 18 October 2025..
The event, filled with music, traditional dance, and speeches, reflected on the party’s half-century journey from its roots in the KwaZulu homeland to its growing national footprint.
The party’s leadership used the anniversary to honour Buthelezi’s legacy and reaffirm its commitment to ethical leadership, community development, and service delivery.
IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa led the celebrations, in his speech he reflected on the party’s history and future direction.
Hlabisa, who succeeded Buthelezi in 2019, emphasised that the IFP’s next chapter will focus on generational renewal while staying true to its founding principles.
“We are building a party for the future — one rooted in integrity, discipline, and service. Our next 50 years must be about youth empowerment, jobs, and the restoration of ethical governance,” Hlabisa said.
The anniversary comes at a critical moment in South Africa’s political landscape, with coalition governments reshaping local governance and voter frustration growing over corruption and service delivery failures.
Hlabisa has urged South Africans to make the right choice for their future at next year’s local government elections.
He added that the IFP is making steady gains in Gauteng, traditionally a stronghold of the ANC, noting that growing dissatisfaction with governance in major municipalities has opened political space for the party.
He explained that, since he took office this year, his department conducted an audit of these municipalities to understand why they have remained in distress for so long.
They found that this is often due to issues in the deployment of administrators who lack the necessary capacity and competence.
The minister said it is critical to assign qualified administrators who can drive meaningful changes and implement recommendations decisively.
Since the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), which IFP is part of it, many have been concerned that the national government’s priorities would be too fractured to provide the necessary support for all spheres of government.
However, when it comes to local government, Hlabisa said all political parties in the GNU and on a national level are committed to improving municipalities.
The latest State of the Government report from South Africa’s Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke, showed that municipalities have crumbled under a decade of mismanagement, with only 34 receiving clean audits for the latest financial year compared to 163 a decade ago.