Ifp Ready To Kick Off Its 50th Anniversary Celebrations
The Inkatha Freedom Party IFP is marking its 50th anniversary this weekend. Founded by the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi on 21 March 1975, it was initially called the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement, or Inkatha yeNkululeko yeSizwe.
Following the first democratic elections in 1994, the IFP became part of the Government of National Unity under former President Nelson Mandela.
The party says its expecting 30 000 supporters to attend the celebrations at the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Stadium in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday.
The IFP originally drew its name from Inkatha kaZulu, the Zulu National Congress founded by Buthelezis uncle- King Solomon kaDinuzulu - in 1928.
IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa says the party plans to honour those who played a critical role in its formation and survival.