Cape Town | Wednesday
WESTERN Cape premier Gerald Morkel is expected to seek an interdict from the Cape High Court on Wednesday to block the New National Party’s bid to split from the Democratic Alliance.
His urgent application is expected to be heard only hours ahead of a meeting of the NNP federal council in Pretoria, which is expected to give the green light to an agreement on co-operative governance with the African National Congress.
Morkel maintains the NNP cannot formally break with the DA without changing its constitution — and “possible amendments” are on the agenda of the Pretoria meeting.
On Tuesday, the premier won a court order restoring his suspended membership of the NNP.
He also gave NNP national leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk a 4pm deadline to agree to halt talks with the ANC, and undertake not to take any steps “to alter the structures of the NNP or the DA in the Western Cape”.
However, NNP deputy executive director Daryl Swanepoel said his party did not accept that the federal council decision was inconsistent with the constitution.
Swanepoel said any “actions” related to the NNP’s involvement in the DA would be dependent on resolutions taken at the meeting, “and will be in accordance with the constitution of the NNP, whether amended or not”.
The council will also discuss a progress report on talks between the NNP and the ANC after the two sides met again on Tuesday morning. – Sapa
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