IFP pushes for countrywide coalition partnerships
The IFP won seats in a number of municipalities across the country; however, its stronghold is KwaZulu-Natal.
Thabiso Goba
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) KwaZulu-Natal leadership hold a media briefing in Durban on 2 September 2026 regarding the upcoming local government elections. Picture: Thabiso Goba/EWN
Thabiso Goba/EWN
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) said it wants coalition partners that it will lead with across the country, and not just in isolated municipalities.
The party’s coalition negotiation team is currently in KwaZulu-Natal, meeting with several parties.
The party has the second highest number of elected councillors in the province, with representation in all 44 councils.
The IFP won seats in a number of municipalities across the country; however, its stronghold is KwaZulu-Natal.
The party won 5 municipalities with an outright majority while it got the most votes in 14 hung municipalities.
IFP’s national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, said the party wants to make deals that will cover all hung municipalities.
“We have agreed largely on national consistency in terms of the outcomes of these negotiations, and there will be no special dispensation nor special arrangements for individual municipalities unless absolutely necessary flexibility will be applied, but within the confines of national consistency.”
Hlengwa added that the IFP will be meeting with every represented party.