IFP fires up eShowe rally ahead of voter registration weekend

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) isn't wasting any time ahead of the 2026 local government elections. On Saturday, the party held a massive rally in eShowe, KwaZulu-Natal, to mobilise supporters and push voter registration ahead of the IEC's registration weekend.

Party president Velenkosini Hlabisa took the stage to outline the IFP's vision for local governance. He urged supporters to register and vote for change at the municipal level.

The rally comes as the IFP tries to build on its gains from the 2021 local elections, where it won control of several key municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, including the Zululand District Municipality. The party has been positioning itself as a credible alternative to the ANC in the province.

Voter registration weekend is a crucial moment for all parties. The IEC opens registration stations across the country so citizens can register or update their details. The IFP is betting that a strong showing in eShowe will translate into votes in November.

Hlabisa, who took over the IFP leadership in 2019, has been working to rebrand the party and expand its base beyond its traditional strongholds. Under his leadership, the IFP has made inroads in places like eThekwini and even parts of Gauteng.

The eShowe rally is part of a wider campaign blitz. The IFP has scheduled similar events across KwaZulu-Natal in the coming weeks. The party is also using social media and door-to-door canvassing to reach younger voters.

For the IFP, the stakes are high. The 2026 local elections will test whether the party can sustain its momentum or whether it will be squeezed by the ANC and the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which has been drawing support from former ANC and IFP voters in the province.

But for now, the focus is on registration. The IEC has urged all eligible voters to register or check their details this weekend. The IFP is making sure its supporters hear that message loud and clear.

The IFP's campaign is expected to zero in on service delivery failures in municipalities run by the ANC and other parties. The party has been critical of poor water, electricity, and sanitation services in many towns.

Eshowe, a historic town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, was a fitting venue. It is in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, where the IFP has been working to strengthen its presence. The town also has deep ties to the IFP's history and Zulu traditional leadership.

With the registration weekend kicking off, the IFP is hoping its rally will be the spark that gets people to the polls. Whether it works will depend on how many of those who cheered in eShowe actually show up at registration stations.