On the Results of the 2021 Local Government Elections
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the media, for joining us today as we unpack the results of the 2021 Local Government Elections and what these results mean for the IFP.
As you can imagine, we are pleased and humbled by the exceptional performance of the IFP, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. It confirms the strong partnership of trust that we have built with the people. While we have good reason to celebrate our electoral success, the time for celebrating must be short-lived. Because we know how much needs to be done, we will waste no time in getting to work.
From the onset, I want to thank the people of South Africa, the voters, who heard the IFP’s message and responded to it on November 1st by giving us their support and their vote. I want to make it clear that we do not take these votes lightly. We understand that South Africa has hit rock bottom and that every vote for the IFP was an appeal for change; an appeal for a leadership that our people can trust.
As the President of the IFP, I would like to express our deep appreciation to the IFP’s Founder and President Emeritus, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP, for allowing us to honour his legacy in this campaign.
Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi was not a mere figurehead in this election. He worked incredibly hard, taking our message of hope to the electorate. We are humbled by the energy and time that he gave to this campaign. It was an inspiration to many of our leaders and structures, urging us to keep going and to do more. I therefore want to thank Prince Buthelezi, on behalf of the IFP, because the good results are in large part due not only to his contribution, but to the brand that he built over so many years.