The African National Congress (ANC) in Kwazulu-Natal has laid out a programme of action to consolidate and extend its support base if it takes over control of the provincial government after last week’s defection of five Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MPs to the ANC.
A meeting of the ANC provincial general council in Durban on Saturday highlighted focusing on traditional structures, religious communities, farmers and farm workers.
”At times we have not been as sensitive to issues concerning the farmers and farm workers as we ought to have been. We have not been as vocal when farmers get killed as we ought to have been… We hope the new farmers in our ranks will educate and sensitise us around these issues,” a statement from the meeting read.
KwaZulu-Natal ANC leader Sbu Ndebele also said the party was committed to a broad-based unity of parties that would include the IFP. The progress of the peace process in the province was also addressed.
The defection last week of the five IFP MPs to the ANC would give the latter party the majority in the provincial legislature if the crossing of the floor legislation is upheld by the constitutional court. – Sapa