IFP's Hlabisa defends party flying banner over venue where NFP had manifesto launch

JOHANNESBURG - Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Velenkosini Hlabisa has defended his organisation after it allegedly disrupted the National Freedom Party's election manifesto.

A helicopter with an IFP banner flew over the Ulundi Regional Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal where NFP supporters gathered for its manifesto launch at the weekend. 

Speaking to Eyewitness News on the sidelines of a Multi-Party Charter briefing on Wednesday, Hlabisa said he did not see how the helicopter disrupted the programme.

Hlabisa didn’t seem bothered by accusations levelled against his party, saying that flying an IFP banner didn’t disrupt the NFP's election manifesto.

"Anyone who is campaigning outside the venue and not getting inside the venue, it shouldn't be a problem really."

He said that just like every other election season, political parties go the extra mile to garner support.

"If the IFP is having an event in a stadium and a political party is flying and not dropping its campaign material in the stadium, I wouldn’t have a problem."

Hlabisa claims the helicopter flying the IFP's banner was scheduled to fly over the stadium way before it was booked for the NFP's manifesto launch.