Possible ANC, IFP deal in KZN
2004-04-18 22:18
Jan-Jan Joubert and Sibonelo Msomi
Pretoria - Despite the ANC's election triumph in KwaZulu-Natal, the party said on Sunday there is no decision yet on who will be the new premier.
The party wrested KZN from the IFP when its tally of 46.98% of the votes (38 seats) beat the combined IFP and DA tally of 45.17% (30 + seven seats), while the ANC can probably also count on the Minority Front's 2.61% (two seats).
on Sunday, the ANC said it does not know who the premiership nominee is, as it is up to President Thabo Mbeki to name his choice.
Provincial chair S'bu Ndebele is regarded as the frontrunner.
Provincial spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said even provincial executive committee members do not know who could be nominated.
"It's the president's prerogative to nominate the premier. But we believe he will announce the nominee before Friday," said Mthimkhulu.
He said the party's provincial executive committee will meet behind closed doors to deliberate on the future of the province on Monday, but refused to reveal the agenda.
Most likely to feature are coalition agreements with other political parties to boost the party's 38 seats in the legislature.
The Minority Front would be easily wooed, having previously said as much. The African Christian Democratic Party (two seats) could be a target.
It has said it would be willing to consider a role in KZN, but only if the IFP is included for the sake of stability.
The UDM has one seat in KZN, but it is unclear where it would go.
The ANC's national coalition partner, the NNP, doesn't have anything to offer in KZN, where it garnered only 0.52% of the votes.
Apparently, the ANC has already negotiated with the IFP, which will be offered four (out of 10) cabinet posts in the provincial government.
Should the IFP turn down the offer, it would be outside government like the DA with the advantage of independence, but the risk of being ignored.
Should it accept the offer, it would be inside government like the NNP with the advantage of posts and participation in decision-making, but running the risk of being sucked in.
IFP insiders expect the national council to agree to co-operate with the ANC despite terrible complaints about how the party was slighted in the elections.
However, on Sunday night, the national council was still locked in talks and no decision had yet been taken.
Fraud
Statements by IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi over the past week that the provincial elections were not free and fair created the impression that the party could refuse to accept the results.
However, political experts believe that this may be an empty threat because the IFP performed so poorly that the legislature could still function even if the IFP does not attend.
On top of that, parties had only until 21:00 on Friday to submit complaints about the elections.
Despite the IFP's public statements and the more than 60 complaints of election fraud filed with the IEC, there was a growing awareness over the weekend that the election results would have to be accepted.
IFP MPs admitted in private that the complaints are not enough to eradicate the 278 000 vote difference between the two parties in KZN.
At national level, the ANC's national working committee will also meet on Wednesday to discuss the party's way forward, now that it has won in all provinces.
Mthimkhulu said delivery would be the buzzword at the meeting.
"People of the province, across racial lines, have made it loud and clear that the ANC must rule the province.
"We invite all political parties to join the ANC in the people's contract to fight poverty, unemployment, diseases, crime and provide development to create a better life for the people of South Africa," he said.
Mthimkhulu denied insinuations that the ANC's victory in all provinces means a slide towards a one-party state and said playing on this fear backfired on other parties.