15 Facts About Velenkosini Hlabisa

Velenkosini Fiki Hlabisa was born on 4 January 1965 and is a South African politician and former teacher who is currently serving as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Government of National Unity since June 2024.

Velenkosini Hlabisa has been President of the Inkatha Freedom Party since 2019 and a member of South Africa's National Assembly where he serves as his party's leader since October 2023.

Velenkosini Hlabisa previously served as the Secretary-General of the IFP from 2011 to 2017, as the Mayor of the Big Five Hlabisa Local Municipality from 2016 to 2019 and as the Leader of the Opposition in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature between 2019 and 2023.

Velenkosini Hlabisa currently serves as the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Velenkosini Fiki Hlabisa was born on 4 January 1965 in Hlabisa, Northern Natal.

Velenkosini Hlabisa is the eldest of four children born to David and Thembani Hlabisa.

Velenkosini Hlabisa joined the IFP Youth Brigade at the age of thirteen in 1978 and matriculated from high school in 1983.

Velenkosini Hlabisa's father died while he was at university in 1990.

Velenkosini Hlabisa continuously served as a municipal councillor for twenty-four years, during which he was Mayor of the Big Five Hlabisa Local Municipality from 2016 to 2019.

Since joining the IFP in 1978, Velenkosini Hlabisa had risen through the party's leadership ranks.

Velenkosini Hlabisa was elected Secretary-General of the party in 2011.

In 2017, the IFP's Extended National Council unanimously endorsed Velenkosini Hlabisa to succeed Mangosuthu Buthelezi as party president.

Velenkosini Hlabisa was elected unopposed as the new leader of the IFP at the party's 35th National General Conference held in August 2019.

On 16 October 2023, IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa announced that the party's National Executive Committee had resolved that Velenkosini Hlabisa would take up the late Mangosuthu Buthelezi's seat in the National Assembly.

Velenkosini Hlabisa was sworn in as a Member of Parliament on 19 October 2023.