The African National Congress is looking to seize control of KwaZulu-Natal from its Inkatha Freedom Party coalition partner when floor-crossing legislation kicks in next month.
ANC leader S’bu Ndebele said there had been a ”general breakdown in relations between the parties”. He would not comment on strong speculation that the ANC is looking to take a majority in the legislature when MPLs are free to defect to other parties during the floor-crossing ”window” period due to start on June 18.
At present the IFP has 34 seats in the 80-seat legislature, the ANC 32, its Minority Front ally two and its New National Party ally three. To control the government, which it now runs in coalition with the IFP, the ANC requires four more seats.
A clear sign that the ANC has abandoned its cautious approach to the IFP is its decision to force through Pietermaritzburg as KwaZulu-Natal’s legislature seat. A watershed vote will be taken on Friday in Ulundi amid a massive deployment of police. The defence force is also on standby following threats of violence if the IFP loses.
The provincial IFP is fiercely determined that Ulundi should house the legislature, describing Pietermaritzburg as a ”colonial” and ”white man’s” capital. IFP national spokesperson Musa Zondi asked: ”If these people vote for ‘Maritzburg, how can the coalition continue?”
All parties unanimously adopted Pietermaritzburg as the legislature in the absence of the IFP two weeks ago. The provincial legislature has been alternating its sittings between Ulundi and Pietermaritzburg as a compromise deal between the ANC and the IFP since 1994
Ndebele said the ANC’s national leadership was aware of the province’s decision to vote for Pietermaritzburg. Hinting that he was looking forward to realignment when floor-crossing kicked in, he said: ”Good parties are those that can keep members inside happy, and those outside attracted.”
Ndebele said the state of relations between the ANC and the IFP in the province should have no bearing on their relationship at the national level. The differences between the two parties at the national level were ”issue-based”, while in KwaZulu-Natal there was total breakdown.
The IFP is believed to have raised the issue of the legislature seat at a 15-a-side meeting with the ANC in Johannesburg last week. Among the senior leaders present were Deputy President Jacob Zuma, ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe, Ndebele, IFP national chairperson Lionel Mtshali, deputy chaiperson Ben Ngubane and Zondi.
The only subject to be discussed was the state of coalition government in KwaZulu-Natal.
ANC sources close to the national leadership said that for the sake of peace, the party’s provincial structures would have to make up with the IFP in the province after the vote was taken.
However, Ndebele insisted there had been no pressure from the ANC leadership. The South African Communist Party secretary in KwaZulu-Natal, Smiso Nkonyana, has threatened to break ranks with the party should the ANC compromise on the vote. He reminded the ANC of the promise in its 1999 election manifesto to make Pietermaritzburg the provincial capital.