While the clock is ticking for political parties to find each other in an effort to form a coalition government in KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere, the IFP has been put under the spotlight as to which party it will pick to forge a pact.
However, the party’s leadership has asked members of the public to exercise patience as it works on finding a solution.
This comes after the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK Party) amassed 45.35% of the votes in KwaZulu-Natal. This was the highest support in last week’s elections. The IFP came in second with 18.07% and the ANC third with 16.99% of the votes.
Seeking party with common goal of seeing the country progress
“People must be patient, we are engaging all political parties. [The IFP is] open to working with the MK Party if they share our values and destiny. We have a common goal of seeing the country progress,” said party president Velenkosini Hlabisa. He was responding to questions about the IFP’s stance against the the MK party.
Hlabisa explained that the party will announce on Friday on the outcome of the partnership negotiations.
“The IFP is taking the negotiations very seriously, as we have appointed a seven-member team to head the talks,” Hlabisa stated.
The talks are headed by party’s deputy president, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi of the eMbongombongweni tribal council.
Constitutionally, all provincial legislatures should sit on June 17 and 18. During this sitting, speakers and deputy speakers will be elected.
IFP came back strong in this election
This includes the election of premiers for provinces. The IFP came back strong in the recent provincial and national elections. It maintained their official opposition status in KZN. The party also added two more seats from the 15 that the party received in 2019 elections.
The party, founded by the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, had embarked on an aggressive election campaign. It focused mainly on KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
They wooed voters with the message “Do it for Shenge”, which seemed to have worked for the party. The 49-year-old party, with its roots in KZN, also increased its vote share nationally. It garnered three additional parliamentary seats, taking the tally to 17 seats.
The MK Party, on the other hand, has challenged the electoral outcome and is in a pole position in KZN with 37 seats. But according to insiders, the DA and the ANC were spearheading a move to chuck out the former president-led political formation.
Meanwhile, the ANC has said it would not be dictated to by Zuma. Its majority in the national ballot was dramatically reduced to a meagre 40%.
ANC conundrum
The party was briefing the media on Wednesday, where ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the MK Party had put them on mute. He announced that they had reached out to the EFF, PA and DA to form a government.
“The results indicate a clear desire for all parties to work together in the best interest of our country and its people,” said Mbalula.
The move to work with the DA, if it materialises, is likely to cause a backlash between the ANC alliance partners. Among them are Cosatu and the SACP, who have poured water to the suggestion.
Nhlamulo Ndhlela, MK spokesman, said the party would not negotiate with the ANC of Ramaphosa.
“We are keen to negotiate with the ANC, but not the ANC of Ramaphosa,” he explained.
