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The IFP has been disappointed by the coverage of its performance in
this week's municipal by-elections in KwaZulu-Natal as the media
appeared far more interested in malicious reports of internal party
rifts.

"The IFP is proud to have won four by-elections across KwaZulu-Natal
which our detractors widely expected us to lose," said IFP
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi MPL.

The IFP won municipal by-elections in Umvoti (Ward 9), Indaka (Ward
6), Okhamhlamba (Ward 1), and Nqutu (Ward 5).

"Ahead of the by-elections, the media congregated in large numbers in
Greytown in particular, expecting the IFP to lose. When we did not,
the journalists responded with deafening silence," said Dr Buthelezi.

In stark contrast to their coverage of the municipal by-elections is
the media's interest in the non-story of the alleged dismissal of the
IFP National Chairperson and Mayor of the Zululand District
Municipality Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi.

"The media went ahead with this obvious falsehood despite the IFP's
denials of the substance of the story. Days after persistent media
reports to the contrary, Mayor kaMagwaza-Msibi is still the party's
National Chairperson," said Dr Buthelezi.

The IFP is disappointed by the media's insistence on peddling a
non-story at the expense of a genuine news development. "The
electorate in these municipal wards has once again defied the wishful
thinking in certain sections of the media which are determined to beat
the ruling party's drum at all cost," said Dr Buthelezi.