The IFP has labelled as propaganda the National Freedom Party's announcement
that it is welcoming many former IFP members into their fold. The IFP said
this when it responded to a statement made by the NFP President Mrs Zanele
KaMagwaza Msibi at recent news conference where the NFP paraded Mr Ephraim
Sipho Mbatha who was expelled from the IFP.

Responding to the NFP's claim, IFP Deputy National Spokesperson, Joshua
Mazibuko said: "The IFP strongly condemns the NFP's propaganda and
disinformation campaign which seeks to confuse the public by painting a very
distorted picture about the IFP; alleging that many IFP members are leaving
us for their party.

"It is a fact that, while the NFP began with a much fanfare and was
projected by the self-made prophets as a serious player, recent events have
proven that the party is slowly dying a natural death. Chaos and exchanging
blows have been a common feature in almost all NFP conferences. In addition,
the party is ripped apart by bloody internal confrontations which have
unfortunately resulted in a few members and leaders losing their lives and
at least one prominent leader being imprisoned.

"Contrary to Mrs Msibi's claims, it is the IFP that is receiving many NFP
members who are coming back home. This has become crystal clear in the
recent by-elections in Nongoma, Nquthu, Phongolo and uMtshezi where the IFP
trounced the ANC-NFP alliance despite the fact that they used public funds
and resources to campaign for their candidates.

"As for Mr Mbatha, it is interesting that he has suddenly been born-again
and it took his expulsion from the IFP to see the IFP as a dying party. He
did not see all that in all the years he spent in the IFP and when he
enjoyed being an MPL. He also sat in the very National Council which he now
castigates as a kangaroo court.

"It is very telling of his character that he did not first apologize
publicly to his new leader and party about the terrible things he used to
say about KaMagwaza-Msibi, calling her all sorts of names. The IFP is not
all worried about political chameleon's who lack integrity and a strong
backbone, " concluded Mazibuko.