The battle for the soul of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) continues with some party members nearly exchanging blows at a secret meeting that was held on Wednesday in Jozini in the far north of KwaZulu Natal (KZN). The fight comes only two months after the death of founder and former party president Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

The factional fights over the soul of the IFP started when King Cetshwayo District Mayor Thami Ntuli allegedly called a private meeting with Jozini mayor Naye Mathe and his allies to discuss a way to rally behind him and push his name forward for the party's KZN Premier candidate. This comes just a month after two favorite IFP leaders, party President Velenkosini Hlabisa and Ntuli announced in a media briefing that there were no ongoing faction battles within the organisation. Ntuli was accused by some party members of having pushed Hlabisa to take a seat in Parliament in order for him to be able to run for the Premier position in the province. Three reliable sources told ZiMoja that party members are already divided and are accusing Ntuli of controlling mayors in the province.

ZiMoja is in possession of the three circulating recorded voice clips where IFP party members are threatening to take down Ntuli if he does not back down from challenging Hlabisa's leadership. "Things are falling apart, Thami and Vela are at loggerheads fighting one another over the powers of running the organisation. Thami made sure that his people were in the mayoral positions in order for them to reward him with the premiership position. He was never happy after uMntwana (Buthelezi) appointed Vela as the party president. He is eyeing that position," a source said. Another source told ZiMoja that Ntuli has the backing of the youth in the party. "Thami is smart and he is the one who came up with the concept of hosting events to attract the youth. He's got the backing of them while Vela has the backing of the elders in the party who want things to be done Shenge's way. Thami did not agree with Shenge's leadership style so he wants to change the way things are done and the youth and the current generation of IFP love him. It's a mess now people are threatening to boycott campaigning for the party in next year's election if the IFP continues to endorse Thami," the source said. IFP National spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa denied that there are tensions brewing within the party. "The IFP, and the cited leaders, have repeatedly explained that there is no tension between them. The matter is thus mute as far as the IFP is concerned," he said.