Dear friends and fellow South Africans,

There is that moment in every good court drama when the verdict is read and
the room erupts with raw emotion. The victors hug and congratulate each
other, vindicated by the rule of law, while the other side rallies its game
face for the reporters outside.

By the grace of God, Monday's judgment on the 12 November 2010 court case
brought against the IFP by its National Chairperson saw the IFP on the
victors' side. The Honorable Judge Chiman Patel dismissed the application
with costs, effectively vindicating the IFP's decisions to postpone Annual
General Conference, supporting the legitimacy of its structures and
leadership and giving the green light for the Party to hold the long-awaited
disciplinary hearing of Mrs VZ kaMagwaza-Msibi.

It has been a long and arduous road, but I thank God we can now put this
ugly debacle behind us and begin reunifying the Party. In the aftermath of
the judgment, Mrs Magwaza-Msibi and her supporters - and all those who have
chosen to sit on the fence - will no doubt be making some critical
decisions. The IFP may lose some members, but the wheat will finally be
sifted from the chaff and, albeit a painful process, this is necessary for
the sake of unity.

The strength of the IFP has always come from the fact that we are by nature
democratic. Our opponents often attack us on this very point suggesting that
the IFP is autocratic simply because I have been President since I founded
Inkatha in 1975. But I have retained this position based on the collective
will of the card-carrying members of the IFP. Not by my own decision or even
according to my own desires, for I have been ready to retire twice.

When I founded Inkatha, I announced at one of its very first Council
meetings that I intended to always seek and respect the collegial wisdom of
the people. This set us apart from other liberation organizations and
political parties. I believe, for instance, that the ANC's mission in exile
failed to properly gauge the concerns and desires of the oppressed majority
who lived on the coal face of apartheid's cruelty. Few black South Africans
wanted an armed struggle; it was foisted on us and has become part of our
somehow romanticized history.

Throughout my long political career, I have consistently pursued the will
and interests of the people. It has brought me heartache and vilification.
Some say it has undermined the high positions I could have attained. It has
certainly been a difficult and painful road of service, marked by betrayals
and treachery. But if one is truly a servant of the people, one must listen
to what the people are saying; not just the ones who like you.

I have learned to surround myself with many advisers, so that I not only
hear what is easy and pleasing, but also what is unpleasant and challenging.
Often I hear lies. But I often hear the truth because it is spoken in many
ways, with many motives, from many mouths. When you listen to only your
supporters, you are likely to make bad decisions.

I was concerned to hear Mrs Magwaza-Msibi's statements on Wednesday as she
cancelled her media briefing, that she could not make any decisions about
the future until she had spoken to her supporters. The Daily News quotes her
as saying, "I am a person who believes in consulting with my supporters
first before taking a decision."

It is worrying that her supporters are people who burn the IFP's flag and
threaten to keep people away from the polls in the Local Government
Elections. They are people who voluntarily bound themselves to a political
party and its constitution, and then trampled that constitution and ignited
divisions. These are not the kind of advisers who are likely to come up with
a plan that is in the best interests of our Party, our people or our
country.

Is another breakaway party in the interests of democracy? Is it even viable
so close to Local Government Elections? Analysts have agreed that Mrs
Magwaza-Msibi is likely to either leave the IFP and start her own party, or
pack her bags and run to the ANC. She has already warned the public that she
will not allow her career to end here. There is no longer a doubt that she
is ambitious, as are the supporters who are advising her.

We know that few "Friends" have betrayed the Party for ideological reasons.
A lot of money has changed hands. Positions have been promised. Tenders have
been given. For those who are riding her coat tails, much rides on the
success of VZ. I am told that Monday's judgment has created a good deal of
fear and tension among the "Friends of VZ".

It was well publicized that the IFP received back into the fold several
members who originally contracted the "Friends of VZ" virus, but later
recovered their senses. One analyst has advised Mrs Magwaza-Msibi to
apologise, mend her ways and seek the IFP's forgiveness. Based on many
precedents, I am expected to be magnanimous in absolution. But senior
leaders have attempted reconciliation with Mrs Magwaza-Msibi several times
and she has rejected it.

Now people question why I gave her the benefit of the doubt for such a long
time. It is in my nature to believe the best and hope for the best. Often
this brings out the best in the people around me. But the human heart is
unsearchable and I have been betrayed by many before. Nevertheless I listen,
I keep the channels of communication open and I let people say what they
need to say. For in this way I hear the truth hidden within the lies.

Right now the future is open to speculation. But there is at least one
aspect we need not wonder about. On Wednesday Mrs Magwaza-Msibi told the
media she was not aware of any disciplinary hearing and would await formal
notification from the Party. Notification has been sent and our National
Chairperson is expected to appear before the IFP's National Council on the
29th of January 2011. This is an internal party process based on the Party's
Constitution, to afford our National Chairperson a fair hearing. We have
been determined from the start to give her an opportunity to state her case.

Yours in the service of the nation,

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP