Velenkosini Fiki Hlabisa (born 4 January 1965) is a South African politician and former teacher who has been President of the
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party ( zu, IQembu leNkatha yeNkululeko, IFP) is a right-wing political party in South Africa. The party has been led by Velenkosini Hlabisa since the party's 2019 National General Conference. Mangosuthu Buthelezi founded t ...
(IFP) and the Leader of the Opposition in the
KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is unicameral in its composition and elects the premier and the provincial cabinet from among the leading party or coalition members i ...
since 2019. He served as the Secretary-General of the IFP from 2011 to 2017 and as the Mayor of the
Big Five Hlabisa Local Municipality
Big Five Hlabisa Local Municipality is a local municipality of South Africa. It was established for the August 2016 local elections by the merging of The Big 5 False Bay and Hlabisa local municipalities.
Politics
The municipal council consis ...
from 2016 to 2019.
Early life, education and career
Velenkosini Fiki Hlabisa was born on 4 January 1965 in
Hlabisa
Hlabisa is a settlement in Umkhanyakude District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The village lies between the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi game reserves, some 40 km north-west of Mtubatuba. Named after the Hlabisa tribe ...
,
Northern Natal. He is the eldest of four children. He joined the IFP Youth Brigade at the age of thirteen in 1978 and matriculated from high school in 1983. Hlabisa then proceeded to study at the
University of Zululand
The University of Zululand or UniZulu is the only comprehensive tertiary educational institution north of the Tugela River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Its new status is in accordance with South Africa's National Plan for Higher Education ...
and the
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa (UNISA), known colloquially as Unisa, is the largest university system in South Africa by enrollment. It attracts a third of all higher education students in South Africa. Through various colleges and affiliates, U ...
. His father died while he was at university in 1990. In 1991, he sought employment as a teacher and worked as one at Ngebeza High School for five years and soon as principal of Somfula High School for twenty years.
Political career
In the 1995 municipal elections, Hlabisa was elected a municipal councillor for the town of
Hlabisa
Hlabisa is a settlement in Umkhanyakude District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The village lies between the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi game reserves, some 40 km north-west of Mtubatuba. Named after the Hlabisa tribe ...
. He continuously served as a municipal councillor for twenty-four years, during which he was Mayor of the
Big Five Hlabisa Local Municipality
Big Five Hlabisa Local Municipality is a local municipality of South Africa. It was established for the August 2016 local elections by the merging of The Big 5 False Bay and Hlabisa local municipalities.
Politics
The municipal council consis ...
from 2016 to 2019. In May 2019, he was elected to the
KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is unicameral in its composition and elects the premier and the provincial cabinet from among the leading party or coalition members i ...
and given the title of Leader of the Opposition due to the IFP reclaiming the title of second-largest party in the province. Hlabisa is a member of the legislature's Finance committee.
IFP leadership
Since joining the IFP in 1978, Hlabisa had risen through the party's leadership ranks. He was elected Secretary-General of the party in 2011. In 2017, the IFP's Extended National Council unanimously endorsed Hlabisa to succeed
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi (born 27 August 1928) is a South African politician and Zulu traditional leader who is currently a Member of Parliament and the traditional prime minister to the Zulu royal family. He was Chief Minister of the ...
as party president. Hlabisa was elected unopposed as the new leader of the IFP at the party's
35th National General Conference held in August 2019.
References
External links
Mr Velenkosini Fiki Hlabisa at People's Assembly profileHon. VF Hlabisa – KZN LegislatureOur President – Inkatha Freedom Party
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hlabisa, Velenkosini
1965 births
Living people
Zulu people
Inkatha Freedom Party politicians
Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
People from KwaZulu-Natal
University of Zululand alumni
University of South Africa alumni
Mayors of places in South Africa