Former Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP and current KwaZulu-Natal MPL Jan Slabbert on Wednesday announced he is leaving the IFP to form a new party — the Peace and Development Party (PDP).
KwaZulu-Natal had been riddled with political conflict between the IFP and the African National Congress (ANC) for more than two decades now, he said in a statement.
In 1999, the KZN electorate, by giving the ANC and IFP practically equal seats each, was saying ”loud and clear” the two parties should work together to ensure the province enjoyed peace and development, with a government based on the overwhelming support of the electorate.
Slabbert said he had been a loyal member of the IFP since 1987, and a public representative since 1994. He had also contributed positively to building a new South Africa inside and outside of Parliament.
But, by recently being re-deployed to KZN by the IFP, without consultation, and with the only reason being given by IFP national organiser Albert Mncwango as ”to monitor the performance of public representatives”, he ”felt humiliated, and while I tried to digest this, I could not do so”, Slabbert said.
Thus, he was now establishing the PDP.
He had agonised over this step ever since his sudden redeployment to the KZN legislature, which he perceived as ”nothing else but public humiliation after what I believe was an honourable and committed career in public life” spanning seventeen years in local government, including six as mayor of Vryheid, and as an MP since 1994.
The PDP would actively promote and support measures taken by the ANC and IFP in pursuit of peace and development in KZN.
”Any one-upmanship and brinkmanship will not enjoy our support, and the support of the majority of the good people of this province,” Slabbert said. – Sapa