The Inkatha Freedom Party lists for its parliamentary candidates have finally been made public, ending weeks of speculation over the party's choice of its premier candidate for KwaZulu-Natal.
In terms of the list, published on the IEC's website this weekend, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Lionel Mtshali again tops the party's list for the KwaZulu-Natal legislature as its main candidate. Mtshali, the party's hard-line national chairperson, has been at the heart of the ongoing conflict between the IFP and the African National Congress in the provincial legislature and was redeployed to the province in March 1999 to replace Ben Ngubane, who was perceived to be too close to the ANC.
Mtshali's number two on the list is KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Narend Singh, the most senior South African of Indian origin in the party, while fellow MECs Nyanga Ngubane (3), Gideon Zulu (4), and speaker Bonga Mdletshe (7) are all well-placed. Rev Celani Mtetwa, the province's former Public Works MEC, is placed at number six. Other party stalwarts named for the provincial legislature include Simon Hulumeni Gumede (5), Lauretta Ngcobo (12), Blessed Gwala (23) and Faith Gasa (25).
Party president Mangosuthu Buthelezi heads the list for the National Assembly, followed by Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana (2), national organiser Albert Mncwango (3), Gavin Woods (4), Suzanne Vos (5), Bhekizwe Biyela (6), Koos van der Merwe (7), Inka Mars (8), Ruth Rabinowitz (9) and Hennie Bekker (10).
IFP safety and security spokesperson Velaphi Ndlovu and Deputy Public Works Minister Musa Zondi are both at the top of the KwaZulu-Natal nominees to the national assembly. Mandla Shabalala, the Lindelani hard man, is back in the fold, placed 14th on the province's national assembly list.