Celani Sikhakhane
The ANC has agreed to withdraw the renaming of the Zululand District in honour of SACP struggle stalwart Mzala Nxumalo, and renaming the Mangosuthu Highway after Griffiths Mxenge in order to go into a coalition with the IFP.
These are part of the terms and conditions that saw the IFP and ANC reaching a surprising coalition agreement in the 21 hung KZN municipalities.
One of the IFP negotiators who did not want to be named told Scrolla.Africa that the meeting between ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi was a breakthrough for the parties.
“We were clear as the IFP that we can’t be in talks if they keep on undermining Buthelezi so Ramaphosa agreed to those demands,” said a source.
ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile is expected to meet with the ANC Zululand leadership to brief them about the changes.
In 1988 Jabulani Mzala Nxumalo wrote a book titled, “Gatsha Buthelezi, A Chief with a Double Agenda.”
In the book Nxumalo alleges that Buthelezi is not Chief Mathole’s son and that his mother Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu cheated on Buthelezi.The IFP said the book insulted Buthelezi.
A few years ago, the ANC in the eThekwini region took the decision to rename the Mangosuthu Highway in uMlazi after human rights lawyer, Griffiths Mxenge.
A source said Ramaphosa agreed that the highway will be named back to Mangosuthu highway.
“The EFF wanted the mayorship of Newcastle, the Apemo of Vikizitha Mlotshwa wanted mayorship in Okhahlamba while the ABC of Philani Mavundla wanted to govern uMvoti with their few seats. So it was frustrating. The ANC became a better devil,” said a source.
IFP president, Velenkosini Hlabisa told journalists in Durban that their agreement will see IFP taking government in municipalities where it secured majority votes and the ANC will do the same.
