The United Democratic Movement is to negotiate with the African National Congress regarding a provincial government in KwaZulu-Natal, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said on Tuesday.
Holomisa said he was approached by President Thabo Mbeki on Sunday ”with a view to resolve the stalemate in KwaZulu-Natal regarding a new provincial government”.
Mbeki’s request was tabled in the UDM national executive committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, he said in a statement.
In 2001, the UDM National Congress decided not to enter into coalitions or alliances, but mandated the executive committee to review this position should the need arise.
”At the height of the floor-crossing saga [last year] the UDM decided in principle to support the party that had the majority mandate in KwaZulu-Natal in the last election, namely the IFP.
”As a result of that approach the UDM helped to defeat an attempt by the ANC to take over the provincial government, while it did not have a majority of electoral support,” he said.
On Tuesday, the NEC applied the same principle, recognising that as things stood currently, the majority mandate in KwaZulu-Natal was given to the ANC.
”The UDM NEC therefore agreed to assist the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal as per their request. The UDM provincial executive has thus been given the go-ahead to enter into negotiations with their provincial counterparts in the ANC with a view to forming a provincial government.
”Notwithstanding the above, it is the view of the UDM NEC that the ANC and IFP should still govern together in KwaZulu-Natal,” Holomisa said. — Sapa