Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon will attend the IFP national conference in Ulundi this weekend to strengthen ties between the two parties amid worsening ANC-IFP relations over the floor-crossing legislation.
Although IFP spokesman Musa Zondi said all leaders of political parties had been invited to the conference, including Leon, presidential aide Bheki Khumalo said President Thabo Mbeki - who is also the leader of the ANC - would still be abroad by Saturday.
Mbeki last attended the IFP conference in 1998 in a reciprocal gesture after then IFP national chairman, and now KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Lionel Mtshali represented his party at the ANC's 1997 Mafikeng national congress.
Leon's attendance of this weekend's IFP conference comes as the party is cosying up to the IFP following crippling scandals within the DA.
These include the scandal involving moneyman and German fugitive Jurgen Harkson's alleged bankrolling of the party and the Cape Town street-naming debacle which led to a bitter divorce from the New National Party, which is now in bed with the ANC.
United Democratic Movement leader Bantubonke Holomisa is also expected to attend the IFP indaba.
Holomisa's party has teamed up with the IFP to challenge the ANC piloted floor-crossing legislation in the Constitutional Court.
The highlight of the IFP conference, starting on Saturday, will be a lengthy opening address by leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
