By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) leadership in KwaZulu-Natal has dismissed rumours of forming a new Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) with the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party.
Addressing the media on the rumours, the party’s deputy provincial chairperson Nomagugu Simelane said the ANC is still committed to the GPU and is working well with all the parties although not happy with individuals from the DA and the IFP who are doing things in their own way.
“Are we leaving the GPU to work with MKP? The answer is no. There are no tensions within the GPU. You will recall that it was the MK Party itself, particularly Duduzile Zuma who announced that her party will not work with the ANC so we want to make clear that we are not leaving the GPU,” said Simelane.
Adding his voice, the party provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo said the ANC sees no reason why the GPU will collapse, adding that the party is 99,9% that the current government which includes IFP, DA and NFP will finish its term.
However, the party made it clear that it was not happy with the behaviour of the DA and the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi whom the party said thinks he is above the coalition.
Mtolo said the party is already talking to IFP leadership about his behaviour and wants action to be taken against him by the IFP or the ANC will be forced to act. Mtolo cited Buthelezi’s decision to brand water tankers Cogta delivered to uThukela District Municipality with his face as a bizarre decision.
The GPU is also facing a threat from the National Freedom Party (NFP).
This has been simmering from the onset, after the NFP’s president, Irvin Barnes, claimed the party was betrayed after agreeing to participate in the GPU on the condition that it would be awarded one Cabinet position (which it got when Cynthia Mbali Shinga was appointed as MEC for social development) and the mayorship of the Zululand District Municipality. Barnes was keen to hold that mayorship but the IFP instead voted in its own candidate, Michael Khumalo.
The DA’s KZN leader, Francois Rodgers, said he was not aware of any threat facing the GPU, contending that his party, which holds a deputy speaker position in the KZN legislature and two portfolios in the KZN government executive, was still happy with its participation in that government.
Rodgers said the DA would reject any attempt to bring in MK Party because it”doesn’t believe in the Constitution and law and order”.