Confusion surrounds high-level talks between the Inkatha Freedom Party and an African National Congress team headed by Jacob Zuma reportedly scheduled for Tuesday.
ANC national spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said the talks were on, but his IFP counterpart Musa Zondi said he had no knowledge of them.
Ngonyama said the talks, in Durban, would focus on the strained relationship between the two parties, an issue of particular importance ahead of the coming election.
”When parties go for strong co-operation, they need to be assured that co-operation is still firm, so as they take platforms they know where they stand,” he said.
Ngonyama said the IFP team would be led by provincial MPL and senior IFP figure Celani Mthethwa.
Zuma, who is deputy president of the ANC, would be accompanied by ANC provincial chairman S’bu Ndebele and other party leaders.
Zondi however told Sapa that while there were ongoing meetings between the ANC and IFP to discuss tensions in the province, the party knew nothing about this particular one.
”Go to Mr Ndebele. He is the source of the story. Maybe he knows something I don’t,” he said.
The provincial legislature is delicately balanced between the IFP and the ANC, and the coming general election is expected to be keenly contested.
ANC and IFP supporters clashed in Port Shepstone at the weekend. – Sapa