The hostility and mistrust between the traditional old political foes have played out in public, with fears rife that they will destabilise the KwaZulu-Natal government of provincial unity.
The governing coalition includes the IFP, DA and NFP.
Things came to a head this week when the ANC didn’t mince its words, accusing IFP’s Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, the MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), of being on a political crusade to stamp out the ANC’s stranglehold in key municipalities. Since assuming power, Buthelezi has expeditiously removed all municipal administrators appointed by the ANC during its rule.
ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo, this week went on a tirade, defining the move as reckless and illegal. He also claimed that Buthelezi’s actions were part of a strategy to manipulate municipal processes and steal from municipal coffers.
“The targeting and removal of administrators, including municipal managers and chief financial officers, is a ploy to divert municipal resources.”
Mtolo charged that Buthelezi was the leader of a political criminal syndicate.
“We condemn the weaponisation of Cogta and an attempt to run municipalities into the fiefdom of a dominant grouping operating like a criminal syndicate,” Mtolo said.
Buthelezi, who is also the Zulu king’s traditional prime minister, fired back, saying Mtolo was barking like a toothless dog and that the ANC’s dominance in KZN is over. “The ANC lost power during the May elections, and he must allow those given the responsibility to discharge their responsibility.”
Sunday World understands the ANC’s headquarters issued a stern warning to the ANC KZN leadership to get its act together. Fikile Mbalula apparently made the call, while Mdumiseni Ntuli, the party’s head of elections and new parliamentary chief whip, communicated the message.
According to a member of the provincial executive committee privy to the details, the secretary-general received a directive emphasising the importance of maintaining the relationship with the IFP at all costs.
But Mafika Mndebele, the party’s provincial spokesperson, said, “There is no such thing.”
The IFP and the ANC have already extended their coalition agreement to the local government level, which led the parties to co-govern the Umzumbe local council.
The ANC’s national working committee will visit KwaZulu-Natal to meet with the provincial leadership. One of the key issues is to mend relations with the IFP and assess the party’s dismal performance during elections. The ANC’s day-to-day running structure is also expected to deliberate on the disbandment of the provincial executive committee.
