South Africa’s Inkatha Freedom Party parliamentary caucus on Thursday discussed the impact of the defection period on the party — and party sources indicated that the party could withdraw from national government if its control of KwaZulu Natal is snatched away.
Party representative Musa Zondi was still in caucus on Thursday morning, but sources said the caucus was first informed by Farouk Cassim, a veteran MP, that
he was leaving the party on Friday — and is set to form a new party. The party has already lost two national MPs.
But the caucus was reliably understood to have discussed the critical defection of two of its members in the KwaZulu Natal legislature — former education minister Gabriel Ndabandaba and provincial MP Jan Slabbert — from the party, respectively to the ANC and a new political party. It effectively robs the IFP/Democratic Alliance grouping of certainty of control of the provincial government. It could be up to Slabbert to decide which way the political wind will blow in the province.
It is understood that IFP leader and Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been adamant that if the African National Congress snatches power with a new line of forces in KwaZulu Natal — including the three New National Party provincial MPs — he will withdraw his team from national government.
They are Arts and Culture Minister Ben Ngubane, Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana and himself. He also has two deputy ministers, including Zondi, who is deputy public works minister.
The caucus meeting, which is closed to media and the public, was still locked in discussion just before midday on Thursday.
The defection period for politicians at national and provincial government level ends on Friday April 4.
The opposition has been badly hit by defections — except for the Democratic Alliance which has gained more than it has lost. However, the ANC has been the major benefaciary of a stream of opposition MPs to the ruling party.
KwaZulu Natal has been the traditional powerbase of the IFP. It ruled the self-governing territory area of KwaZulu before democracy in 1994 and it has dominated electoral politics in the province in the 1994 and 1999 provincial
elections.
It has participated in national government with the ANC since 1994. – I-Net Bridge