An urgent meeting of the Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP) national council was being held in Durban late on Wednesday evening to discuss the party’s future in national government — after Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi was left out of the new cabinet line-up.
Party insiders were expecting that at least one ministership would be given to the party — and that it would be Buthelezi. Speculation was rife that Buthelezi would be appointed as a minister without portfolio in the Presidency or get the environment affairs and tourism portfolio, which ultimately went to New National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
It now looks likely that the party will withdraw entirely from government in protest.
President Thabo Mbeki only included two deputy ministers from the IFP in the national executive and no minister from the IFP at all in the cabinet. Instead he appointed Azapo leader Mosibudi Mangena as science and technology minister after he had served as deputy Education Minister.
It is understood that most Members of Parliament from the 28-member team in Parliament — who are automatically part of the IFP national council — flew from around the country to Durban to attend the urgent national council meeting.
The two deputy ministers from the IFP appointed to the executive are a newcomer to government — Vincent Ngema, who was named by Mbeki as deputy Sport and Recreation Minister and incumbent deputy Public Works Minister Musa Zondi. Zondi is the national spokesperson and KwaZulu-Natal leader of the party.
Insiders said that Buthelezi — who was the most senior minister in the government and acted as president on a number of occasions during the 10 years he has been Home Affairs Minister — had been shocked by the announcement made by Mbeki.
No official statement from the IFP — which is customary after an important announcement — had been made by late this evening. Zondi was not available for comment.
Also unclear at this stage is whether the IFP will now participate as a minor player in the KwaZulu-Natal government.
The exclusion of Buthelezi by the President comes in the wake of Inkatha dropping its case in the electoral court. It had alleged that there were irregularities and incidents of intimidation in the recent election campaign — which saw its support slip in its home province of KwaZulu-Natal and nationally. Its dropping of the case was seen as an opportunity to participate with the ANC in government.
Also not appointed to cabinet today was IFP Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana. His post went to Ngconde Balfour, the former Minister of Sport.
Earlier this year IFP Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Minister Ben Ngubane left to become Ambassador to Japan.
Since 1994 the IFP had held the Home Affairs Ministry, the Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Ministry and the Correctional Services Ministry. It had also held two deputy ministers’ posts until now. Former IFP Safety and Security deputy minister Joe Matthews recently retired. – I-Net Bridge