A battle is brewing in the IFP over whether to go into a coalition with the MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal or join an ANC/DA grouping to block Jacob Zuma’s new party from running the provincial government.
The differences are expected to play themselves out at the party’s national executive committee meeting tomorrow. Party president Velenkosini Hlabisa is said to prefer working with the ANC and DA, while provincial chair Thami Ntuli seeks a tie-up with the MK Party.
The MK Party and the IFP could easily form a government as the biggest and second-biggest parties in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature. An ANC/DA/IFP marriage would not be enough to form a government and would require the NFP to join the coalition. But the NFP is dithering. While the other option is the EFF, the DA has made it clear it will not work with the EFF in any capacity.
The Sunday Times understands that those opposed to an MK Party coalition within the IFP are punting their relationship with the DA, which helps them govern many municipalities in the province.
However, insiders say the biggest source of difference between Hlabisa and Ntuli is who has access to power and resources.
“Hlabisa wants to work with the ANC nationally. The MK Party is willing to give the IFP key positions if they form a coalition with it in KZN — the IFP in the province, led by chair Thami Ntuli, is considering it strongly,” said one insider.
“But Hlabisa doesn't want Ntuli to have resources he doesn't have. If they don't work with the ANC national, Hlabisa will become an ordinary MP while Ntuli is on the executive. The upcoming conference of the IFP could be decided by who has power and resources — so it's a big consideration.”
When asked about the IFP’s position on the MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal, party spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said they have not met with MK. “There is currently no meeting scheduled. Further, we remain unclear on the MK Party stance on the results,” he said. This was in reference to the MK Party saying it would be taking the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to court over election rigging allegations.
There is an assumption that we will work with the ANC, but it won't be like that
— Canaan Mdletshe, NFP secretary-general
And the NFP — the only party palatable enough to any ANC, IFP, DA coalition that could end their coalition headache — may not be keen on working with the ANC.
NFP secretary-general Canaan Mdletshe said: “There is an assumption that we will work with the ANC, but it won't be like that. We will do what the people of KZN want and it is clear that the people of KZN don't want the ANC. We won't participate therefore in a government that is going to put the ANC back in power.”
However, Mdletshe said that they are yet to take a firm decision on who to work with, as they are considering many factors.
“What is going to give our final decision on this issue is what the people of KZN want, and the reality is they want development,” he said. “Are they happy with the previous government? No — that is why they removed the ANC from power. We therefore cannot form a government for the sake of forming a government [and] ensuring that the status quo remains. We are not going to do that.”
Meanwhile, the ANC is counting on local government deals it has in place with the NFP — a coalition in Nongoma and eDumbe municipalities that has put the NFP in the executive with the help of the ANC — to translate into co-operation in a provincial government.
The MK Party has not stated its coalition preferences in KwaZulu-Natal, but with 37 seats, it needs five more to constitute a government that will control the provincial budget of R150bn.
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