The Inkatha Freedom Party’s specially convened national council meeting late on Saturday evening endorsed the withdrawal of two of its officials appointed to the KwaZulu-Natal provincial cabinet by Premier S’bu Ndebele.
”The national council is satisfied that the ministers did the correct thing by withdrawing,” said IFP national spokesperson Musa Zondi.
Asked about whether a decision was taken by the council, Zondi just said the council will have to meet with the African National Congress.
He said it is ”not a national issue” and discussions will be held at provincial level. Delegations from the two parties will continue with negotiations on a still-to-be-determined date.
Earlier on Saturday night Zondi said Ndebele had appointed Celani Mtetwa and Inkosi Nyanga Ngubane without his party’s express approval.
He said the IFP will not allow people outside the party to nominate for them.
”Even Mbeki did not do so, even Mandela did not do so, why should Ndebele do that?” asked Zondi.
He said Friday’s cabinet announcement was nothing more than a public relations exercise and not a ”genuine commitment” to come together.
Zondi said the IFP wants to participate in the provincial government with dignity and would be willing to forego cabinet positions if these are not respected.
IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi, national chairperson Lionel Mtshali and Zondi were among the top brass attending Saturday’s meeting of the party’s highest executive body, which party officials confirmed was originally scheduled for Sunday.
”[It is] a problem that needs to be sorted out, one way or the other,” said Zondi late on Friday evening of the IFP’s decision to withdraw Mtetwa and Ngubane from the provincial cabinet announced earlier that day by the new premier.
”The ANC delegation had agreed to give the IFP three portfolios in the negotiation process,” Zondi added.
Meanwhile, speaking from a party perspective, African National Congress provincial spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said on Saturday that the ANC was satisfied there was ”no crisis and everything is going according to plan”.
”It is incumbent on the colleagues of the IFP to sort out their internal problems,” he said.
The newly constituted KwaZulu-Natal government, which for the first time is led by an ANC premier, also responded on Saturday, saying Ndebele is ”firmly in control of governance” in the province.
”There is absolutely no crisis,” said Dumisani Makhaye, provincial minister for local government, housing and traditional affairs, in a statement.
Makhaye said Ndebele has not received any letter of resignation from the two withdrawn IFP officials, and even if there are some resignations in future, the premier will use his prerogative to fill vacancies.
”The government of KwaZulu-Natal wishes to reiterate that it is not political parties that constitute the government but the head of the government. This is the case even if it is a multiparty government,” read the statement.
On the disputed number of IFP provincial ministers announced, Makhaye said Ndebele and Zondi had discussed the actual names of the IFP contingent to the government.
”The third IFP name was not cleared by Zondi, hence it was not announced yesterday [Friday]. The premier is still waiting for that suggested name to him.
”[Upon] failure to do this on the part of the IFP, the premier will soon complete the formation of his government,” said Makhaye.
He said the provincial government and its people could not be ”held to ransom as a bargaining chip” for some personalities to be appointed at national Cabinet posts. — Sapa