By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) announced on Wednesday that it will join a proposed Government of National Unity (GNU), a step toward ending the country’s political deadlock.
This comes after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority after 30 years of governing. This decision would cut across all hung provinces. The party was also dealt a bruising blow in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, dipping below the required 50% plus one.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an National Executive Meeting (NEC) decision last week to invite parties to a GNU as the most viable, effective and powerful way of meeting the expectations of all South Africans at this particular moment.
“The national council of the IFP, having met to discuss the various scenarios presented to them, they have decided on the following: At a national level the IFP has agreed to form part of a Government of National Unity,” IFP President Velinkosi Hlabisa said at a media briefing on Wednesday evening.
“Today the final report of the [IFP’s] task team was tabled first to the NEC [National Executive Committee] and then to the national council, which is the IFP’s highest decision-making body between conferences,” Hlabisa said.
“The national council this afternoon deliberated on this report and carefully considered the direction to take to rebuild South Africa and contribute to the future of our country.
“I take pleasure in briefing you and the people of South Africa on the decisions taken by our national council.”
He said provincially, the IFP is working towards forming a government in KwaZulu-Natal after meeting with the ANC, Democratic Alliance (DA), and National Freedom Party (NFP).
Two other major parties, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters and the new MK Party, have refused to join the unity agreement. MK has filed court papers to halt the first meeting of parliament and has objected to the results of the election, claiming there were irregularities.
South Africa’s independent electoral commission conceded there were logistical problems and noted objections by several parties, but officially announced the results on June 2 and said the election was free and fair. Independent observers also declared it free and fair.
Meanwhile Chief justice Raymond Zondo has declined a request from the UDM’s Bantu Holomisa to convene a meeting between 18 concerned parties ahead of the formation of the government of national unity.
“I do not believe that as chief justice I have the power to call the 18 political parties to a meeting to discuss the issues you raise. Only the parties listed in your letter are happy for me to call such a meeting; the other political parties have not agreed that I should play such a role. That is not the kind of role that one can play if other parties have not agreed to the arrangement,” said Zondo.
This request is “quite far apart from the fact that it is a role that the judiciary would normally not play”, he said.
“In saying that this is not the role that members of the judiciary would normally play, I am not unmindful that in Codesa 1 in the early 1990s there were members of the judiciary who were asked to facilitate discussions among the political parties which were engaged in negotiating the future of South Africa.”
In addition, he told Holomisa that in any event, some may argue that those circumstances necessitated the move. “The circumstance were extraordinary. It was critical to do anything possible to end apartheid rule and to usher in democracy. Although the current situation may be unprecedented since the dawn of democracy, it is not exactly the same as the situation before 1994.”
In this light, Zondo expressed his inability to intervene and said he hoped that parties will find each other.
“I regret that I am unable to accede to your request. However, it is my hope that all political parties will play a constructive role to ensure that South Africa has a government without any undue delay and that there is stability.