Mtshali told to reintstate MECs

2003-04-07 23:50

Johannesburg - The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal has given premier Lionel Mtshali until Wednesday to reinstate three ANC MECs he fired from the province's coalition government or face unspecified action.

The ANC did not appear to rule out a vote of no-confidence that would topple Mtshali's government.

ANC provincial spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said the ANC wanted former housing MEC Dumisani Makhaye, former economic development MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu as well as former education MEC Gabriel Ndabandaba, to be reinstated immediately.

The ANC now appears to hold the stronger hand in the provincial legislature following a rash of defections from the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Democratic Alliance during the most recent floor-crossing window period that closed last week.

The ANC and its allies have 40 seats in the 80-member house against the 38 seats held by the newly-formed IFP-DA partnership.

The United Democratic Movement and the African Christian Democratic Party, with a seat each, are positioned as the "kingmakers".

Technically, unless the UDM and ACDP also back the IFP, the ANC and its allies may be able to pass a vote of no-confidence in Mtshali's administration and take over the provincial government.

"We didn't want to immediately take a vote of no-confidence (on Monday)," Mthimkhulu told Sapa. "We want the people of KwaZulu-Natal and the people of South Africa to realise that we are not bent on grabbing power, but we want the coalition (agreement of July 1999) to be honoured."

Pressed on what the ANC would do if Mtshali did not readmit the ANC MECs to the provincial executive, Mthimkhulu said: "If the premier does not accede (to our demands) we will take a step that will present itself then. I won't be specific now."

Mtshali's spokesman Mahlathi Tembe, however, said on Monday evening that Mtshali had said that the matter was no longer in his hands and needed to be negotiated at national level in planned talks between IFP national president Mangosuthu Buthelezi and ANC leader Thabo Mbeki.

"He (Mtshali) said he cannot pre-empt their (Buthelezi and Mbeki's) discussion," Tembe said.

This was because the original coalition agreement had been negotiated at national level, Tembe said.

Makhaye and Mabuyakhulu were two of four ANC members of the Inkatha Freedom Party-led provincial government until last year when Mtshali sacked them and replaced them with members of the Democratic Alliance.

Ndabandaba was a member of the IFP but he lost his post in the provincial executive when he crossed the floor to the ANC

The ANC's S'bu Ndebele and Zweli Mkhize are still members of Mtshali's executive, holding the transport and health portfolios respectively.

- SAPA