Buthelezi: I'm ANC's 'doormat'

2003-04-01 22:14

Cape Town - Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi clashed with members of Parliament's home affairs committee on Tuesday, accusing ANC MPs of using him as a "political doormat".

The Inkatha Freedom Party leader, who has locked horns with African National Congress MPs on numerous occasions in the past, said he did not know of any other minister who was treated in such a disrespectful manner.

He also warned of the tenuous relationship between the IFP and ANC.

"I have endured a lot of humiliations for the sake of reconciliation.

"I feel bitter and saddened by the fact that if this reconciliation falls apart, there will be members of this committee who have contributed to it," Buthelezi said.

The working relationship between the two parties - that sees the IFP hold three national Cabinet positions in the ANC government - has become strained amid floor-crossings that could give the ANC majority control in KwaZulu-Natal.

The IFP currently hold the premiership in the province, and with the Democratic Alliance now holds the same number of seats in the provincial legislature as the ANC and its allies.

The minister also clashed with members of the committee last year over parliament's handling of immigration legislation, and the status of then Home Affairs director-general Billy Masetlha.

The latest conflict relates to criticism by members last week over Buthelezi's non-appearance before the committee. The minister had sent an apology and written answers to questions explaining he was delivering a lecture at Fort Hare on that day.

Irritated ANC MPs last week complained that the minister had not made a single appearance before the committee last year, with one suggesting he had been attending to floor-crossing business in Ulundi, instead of attending the meeting.

Non-partisan

"I do not know of any other minister who would be treated in such a disrespectful manner by a portfolio committee, to the point of not accepting an apology," Buthelezi said on Tuesday.

He had made extensive presentations to the committees on three occasions last year.

"I have been treated by this committee as a political doormat and no other minister has ever been treated as I have been treated since 1994."

The minister requested the ANC MP who made the comment that he was attending to IFP business and not his ministerial duties to apologise.

Chauke responded that he had appealed for a non-partisan approach to the committee's work, adding that the comment was withdrawn last week, although this was not reported in the media.

IFP and DA members, however, pointed out that the statement was never retracted, and the MP had not made an apology.

ANC MP Piet Mathebe said Buthelezi should refrain from bringing up party affiliation when addressing MPs.

"The relationship between the IFP and the ANC has nothing whatsoever to do with the work of this committee," he said.

- SAPA