The Inkatha Freedom Party in KwaZulu-Natal has resolved to review its working relationship with the African National Congress (ANC) in the province.
IFP provincial chairperson Musa Zondi said on Sunday, after the conclusion of the party’s annual provincial conference, the review would look into whether good governance was being enhanced by cooperating in government with the ANC.
”There is a decision of the conference to review the relationship between the IFP and the ANC… in the light of the prevailing behaviour of the ANC ministers in the coalition (provincial) government.”
The provincial executive committee would conduct the investigation and issue a report to the provincial council, which would then make the decision ”at a certain time” on whether to continue working with the ANC, he said.
Tension between the two parties in the province has escalated, particularly over defection legislation and traditional leaders, and speculation is rife that the IFP will now leave the national government.
The IFP has three full Cabinet ministers — Home Affairs Minister and IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana and Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Minister Ben Ngubane — and hold the premiership of KwaZulu-Natal.
The ANC has four MECs in the province, but has threatened to take over the provincial government, with help of some minority parties. Zondi — who is the Deputy Minister of Public Works — said the provincial congress had also complained that ANC MECs were using their ministries as ”political enclaves” to further their own political gains.
The party called on government to resolve the issue of the status of traditional leaders, he said. In his speech at the congress, Zondi said the issue still divided the IFP and ANC in the province.
”The issue of traditional leaders remain unresolved by the national government in spite of numerous undertakings by them and specifically by the president of this country to do so.
”We stand firm in our conviction that unless the issue of our Kingdom is resolved, there will really be no lasting peace and progress in this province,” he said. – Sapa