Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi this week refused a request by the African National Congress for his party to reappoint two ANC KwaZulu Natal ministers axed last week.
He referred the matter instead to his IFP national council which meets on December 13 and 14 in Ulundi.
IFP national chairman and KwaZulu Natal Premier Lionel Mtshali axed Dumisani Makhaye (Housing MEC) and Mike Mabuyakulu (Economic Development and Tourism) and replaced them with Democratic Alliance members of the legislature.
The ANC’s representation in cabinet was reduced from four to two.
In a statement today, IFP national representative Musa Zondi said talks between the two parties on Tuesday were subject “to a mutual undertaking of
confidentiality”. However, the press statement issued by the ANC ostensibly to capture the outcome of such discussions reflected neither the IFP’s understanding nor its position “and does not speak on the IFP’s behalf”.
ANC representative Smuts Ngonyama said normal relations with the IFP were dependent on Makhaye and Mabuyakhulu being restored to their posts.
It was agreed the two parties would continue to strengthen their relationship while giving the IFP leadership in KwaZulu Natal time to reconsider the MECs’ positions.
Zondi confirmed the ANC had requested the IFP to “undo the reshuffling of the KwaZulu Natal cabinet.” However, IFP president “Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi indicated that he had no power to consider such (a) request as Premier Mtshali’s decision to reshuffle his cabinet to consolidate the partnership with the DA was mandated by an IFP national council decision”.
“There only the IFP national council could deal with the issue and consider the ANC’s request,” he said.
“The IFP is a party of integrity which acts not on the basis of expedience but of principle. We do not pursue once off shifts of policy, but seek with our
actions to accommodate the needs and aspirations of South African democracy,” he added.
“We are ready to bear the consequences of any principled action we take.
The Premier of KwaZulu Natal is the National Chairman of the IFP and expresses through his actions the positions, ethos and pathos of our Party and the
efforts we are making to preserve and promote democracy for the benefit of all South Africans,” said Zondi.
This indicates that the IFP is likely to stand firm on the appointment of DA provincial leader Roger Burrows as Economic Development and Tourism MEC and
the Reverend Ndawoyakhe Ngcobo respectively. It could also mean that Buthelezi and two of his colleagues will find themselves sacked from the national cabinet
– as will two deputy ministers and some IFP ambassadors.
The IFP is unhappy with defection legislation — sponsored by the ANC — which almost led to the toppling of the IFP led government in the province.
Five defectors have since lost their seats in the legislature after the IFP took the matter to the constitutional court. However, new legislation is on the cards to correct technical flaws in the crossing-the-floor legislation which is expected to provide a window for defections in the first half of next year. – I-Net Bridge