The event, scheduled for Sunday, will see the IFP’s national president Velenkosini Hlabisa present a manifesto that he says will focus on practical solutions to municipal challenges such as crumbling infrastructure, poor service delivery and financial mismanagement.
In addition to outlining policy priorities, the gathering is expected to serve as the platform for announcing the IFP’s mayoral candidates for South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities and other strategically important local authorities.
The party is hoping to improve on its 2021 local‑election performance, when it captured just over 6 % of the national vote and a little more than 26 % in its KwaZulu‑Natal stronghold.
Analysts warn the IFP will face a fierce contest in KwaZulu‑Natal, where the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has quickly become popular, alongside traditional rivals the African National Congress and the Economic Freedom Fighters.
The manifesto launch is being billed as a pivotal moment for the IFP to consolidate its base and present a distinct policy alternative ahead of the 2026 polls.