ANC makes an offer on KZN

2004-04-22 00:08

Jan-Jan Joubert, Mandy Rossouw

Pretoria - The KwaZulu-Natal leadership of the African National Congress said in a statement on Wednesday that it had made an offer to the Inkatha Freedom Party concerning the government of the province.

The ANC said the details of the offer could not yet be made public, and the IFP had asked for time to consider it.

The ANC said it insisted that the swearing-in of members of parliament, premier, speaker, deputy speaker and the formation of the KwaZulu-Natal government should be concluded by Friday, April 23.

On Wednesday night, President Thabo Mbeki named KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC S'Bu Ndebele as the ANC's candidate for premier in the province.

ANC spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu congratulated Ndebele, saying the party wanted to announce the provincial cabinet on Friday when members of the legislature were sworn in at Pietermaritzburg.

Mthimkhulu said this was not an ultimatum, but a "target".

The IFP is under pressure in KZN after the United Democratic Movement threw its weight behind the ANC, which means that the ANC, Minority Front and UDM together have enough seats to form a provincial government, with or without the IFP.

The Democratic Alliance said early this year they did not want to serve under an ANC government.

University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Lawrence Piper said it would be in the interests of both the ANC and IFP to co-operate in the provincial government.

"It is good news that the IFP and ANC are talking about co-operation in government.

Wants 42 'irregularities' investigated

"There will be no tensions in the province, making it easier for the ANC to govern without stumbling blocks when they deliver services. The province itself will remain peaceful," said Piper.

Speaking of the IFP's court application, party spokesperson John Aulesbrooke said on Wednesday that the application "does not necessarily mean the IFP wants the election results - on national and provincial levels - to be declared invalid".

In court documents handed in to the electoral court in Bloemfontein, the IFP asked that the IEC re-evaluate 42 allegations of irregularities.

Must make a noticeable difference

Max du Plessis, a constitutional expert at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said the Electoral Act was specifically geared to prevent parties from holding up the inauguration of the president.

"Until the electoral court decides differently, the result stands as it was announced by the Independent Electoral Commission."

He also pointed out that the act required the court to take account only of large-scale irregularities that were significant enough to make a noticeable difference to the results.

Du Plessis said that, given the extent of the ANC majority, this was highly unlikely.

- Beeld