Moses Mabhida Stadium again saw huge crowds this past Sunday as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) launched its 2024 election manifesto. The party’s president, Velenkosini Hlabisa, said it was painful to see how the country had been “led astray by a majority party that became drunk with power.” Hlabisa noted that a change in government is critical and called on voters to bring integrity back into government by voting IFP.
The thirteen-point manifesto focuses on, among other things:
- Jobs
- Crime, Corruption and Gender-Based Violence
- Migration
- Loadshedding
- Education
- Healthcare
- Housing
On migration, the party has said it believes that illegal migrants are “lawbreakers who pose a threat to the safety and security of the State while placing a heavy strain on South Africa’s resources.” To counter this, they want to deploy the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) to ports of entry and borders, revamp the Department of Home Affairs into a modernised, fit-for-purpose department, and ban the operation of businesses found to be employing illegal migrants for a stipulated period as “Fines have not proven to be a deterrent.” They’ve also called for companies to hire at least 80% South Africans.
To combat crime, the party wants to have a national debate on the reinstatement of the death penalty to deter violent crimes. This isn’t the first time they’ve called for this. They also want to support traditional courts and give traditional leaders enhanced roles in provincial and local governance, which they say will help “achieve greater peace and security.”
On healthcare, the IFP says it will champion universal health coverage. “Everyone in South Africa must have equal access to equitable, accessible, quality, state-sponsored health services,” the manifesto reads.
To combat South Africa’s unemployment crisis, the IFP aims to prioritise South Africans, especially the youth, by reserving job opportunities in entry-level and low-skill sectors. They also advocate for the reservation of the small enterprise market and the spaza shop industry for South Africans. Additionally, the IFP proposes to roll out an Unemployed Graduate Grant of R3000 for a fixed period to assist graduates in finding meaningful employment.
As we look ahead to the 2024 elections, seeing how these proposals and promises resonate with voters nationwide will be interesting. Does the public want the death penalty back? Who knows what’s next in South Africa’s political landscape?
Read the manifesto here.
