Promises made as parties’ campaigns shift into high gear

THE IFP says that it has continued to use the imagery of its founder and longtime former president Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi on its elections campaigning branding because it was a resolution of the party’s conference in 2019.

In a media briefing to highlight the party’s state of readiness before the November 1 local government elections, IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said that using Buthelezi’s face to campaign for the party was not undermining the party’s incumbent president.

Hlengwa said that the party had intended to dedicate 2020 to Buthelezi, but was forced to shelve that plan due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the party leadership moved the tribute to 2021.

“The leadership responded to its plans by saying that the face of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi will be used in tandem with that of the leadership of the party in general.

“We are paying homage and tribute to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi for the work that he has done and the work that he continues to do.

President (Velenkosini) Hlabisa is not a stooge president, he is the president of the IFP and he continues to do the work of the president of the IFP,” Hlengwa said.

Meanwhile, leader of the African Democratic Change (Adec) and mayoral candidate for the ethekwini Municipality, Visvin Reddy, said yesterday that if the party won the elections, it would bring jobs, safer communities and an efficient utility billing system to Durban residents.

The former DA member, who was elected as the national leader of Adec just over two years ago, said he was encouraged by the level of support the party had been getting. “We are not a racial political movement, we are a political party that seeks change for everybody. And the past few episodes that we experienced have taught us that the people we elect must be of sound mind.

“So, in Durban, the first thing we are going to do is to stop these illegal connections. Illegal connections must be a thing of the past. The next thing Durban needs is R8 billion to repair the ageing infrastructure, like water pipes. Our people are inconvenienced with these water cuts,” Reddy said.

Actionsa leader Herman Mashaba said that his party was the solution if citizens wanted to wage a war against corruption, adding that they were focused on bringing hope to South Africa.

Speaking at the party’s manifesto launch in Johannesburg yesterday, Mashaba said his message to the people was that hope was not lost.

“Do you want a war waged against corruption? Do you want mayors who work night and day to make sure your businesses thrive and jobs are growing? Do you want electricity, water, roads delivered where residents have never had the dignity of these services?

“Then this is your team,” said Mashaba.