By Sihle Mavuso
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has announced that it will have the premiership of KwaZulu-Natal after reaching a deal with three other political parties with seats in the provincial legislature.
The party’s president, Velenkosini Hlabisa, told the media in Durban on Wednesday night that it has agreed to form a coalition with the ANC, DA and the National Freedom Party (NFP). This will keep the MK Party and the EFF out.
The premier will be Thami Ntuli, the outgoing IFP mayor in the King Cetshwayo district municipality anchored in Richards Bay.
However, there is still uncertainty over this arrangement, after conflicting messages came out of the NFP camp. At 4pm, NFP president Irvin Barnes met former president Jacob Zuma of the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party in Durban to discuss a coalition deal.
Reports later emerged that the NFP had been offered the provincial premiership if it sided with the MK party, even though with the EFF added, they make up only 40 of the 80 seats at the provincial legislature.
Despite the uncertainty over the NFP, Hlabisa insisted to the media that they have reached a deal to form a coalition government and said cabinet positions will be discussed later.
“We had a meeting this morning. In that meeting it was agreed on broad principles between our negotiation team and the other political parties that were part of the meeting. So, precisely, there was a meeting [with the NFP]; the latest one was today,” Hlabisa told the media, speaking about NFP participation.
Regarding the Government of National Unity, Hlabisa said they have agreed to be part of it. They also expressed a wish to be part of the Gauteng provincial government, where there is no outright winner.
Hlabisa said their doors are still not closed to MK, although Zuma’s party kept them waiting on Monday and eventually failed to pitch up for talks. He said they may meet tomorrow ahead of Friday’s sitting of the provincial legislature to elect the speaker, deputy speaker and the new premier, among others.
Pictured above: IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa and the IFP team announced the results of the negotiations.
Source: Sihle Mavuso
