Andy Duffy
Relations between the National Party and the African National Congress in the Western Cape began to thaw in the office of Premier Hernus Kriel this week.
The provincial NP leader met Ebrahim Rasool, leader of the ANC in the provincial legislature, on Tuesday and, among other issues, discussed ways of preventing the ANCs imminent exodus from the provincial government. The ANC is due to leave the provincial Cabinet following the partys decision to oppose Kriels new provincial constitution.
Both sides sought to play down the significance of the meeting after news of it leaked out.
But the meeting is nevertheless likely to raise questions about whether the ANCs provincial leader, Minister of Justice Dullah Omar, is leading or following developments.
Omars one attempt at meeting Kriel fell through last month after Omar was called to the funeral of a murdered Cape Flats doctor. Omar indicated this week that rescheduling a meeting with Kriel was not top of his agenda.
Party members are increasingly concerned about Omars apparent lack of urgency, with many arguing that the party will remain in limbo until he takes a lead. The issue remains highly sensitive, however, with no officials prepared to discuss such fears publicly.
Rasool one of four ANC MECs in the provincial Cabinet who stand to lose their jobs issued a statement to the Mail & Guardian and to Kriel, saying the only item on the agenda was nursing colleges.
It is obvious, the statement adds, that
issues of the Western Cape constitution will be referred to between the premier and Minister Rasool … However, no negotiations took place.
But it is understood that the two, who enjoy a good working relationship, did discuss possible options to break the impasse. Omar was due to debrief Rasool on Thursday.
Omar also told the M&G that he is content for Rasool and the other MECs Chris Nissen, Leonard Ramatlakane and Lerumo Kalako to discuss the issue with Kriel, though denies he is taking a back-seat.
The meeting with Kriel is something we will work towards. Weve been busy with other things. Crime in the Western Cape is a high priority for me, he said.
The ANC has been trying to mount a salvage operation, led by Omar, since last month after its decision to vote against Kriels constitution gave him the excuse to evict the high-profile ANC standard-bearers from his Cabinet. It is not clear what Kriel would gain now from cutting a deal with the ANC, though he is keen to keep Rasool in his current post health and social services and might be persuaded to retain Ramatlakane as Minister of Transport and Public Works.
The ANC has previously insisted that it wants all four posts retained or none at all. Rasool opposed that stance, arguing that the party should settle for the posts on offer. The partys other options include attempting to mobilise support against its eviction, or recreating itself as a formal party of opposition.
There is also talk of offering the NP a trade- off: a government of provincial unity in the Western Cape, in return for allowing the NP back into the government of national unity.
Omar dismisses this option, saying he does not want to fetter the party at national level because of its problems in the Western Cape. NP leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk says his party has not even discussed such a proposal.
ANC insiders say many provincial branches feel the decision to oppose Kriels constitution was a mistake and that the ANC at national level has practically written off the Western Cape. The party has neither the energy, the answers, nor the will to deal with the problems of this province, one senior official says.
Much of the blame for that is being pinned on the provincial leadership. No one is talking about a leadership challenge, at least not before next years provincial party leadership elections. But one standard-bearer says: There is a perception that we have a problem. Theres no widespread view that we need to change before [next years election]. But the whole issue of who will lead us into the 1999 elections clearly has to happen.
Omar has declined to be drawn on whether he will stand in next years election.