Cracks show in KZN coalition after NFP loses out on mayorship
Cracks show in KZN coalition after NFP loses out on mayorship
The National Freedom Party (NFP) has filed a formal complaint with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) after its president, Ivan Barnes, lost the Zululand district municipality mayorship.
Barnes was sworn in as a councillor earlier this month. According to reports, he was set to replace the IFP’s Thulasizwe Buthelezi, who resigned as mayor to serve as Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC in the province.
NFP LOSES OUT ON ZULULAND MUNICIPALITY MAYORSHIP
Earlier this week, Scrolla Africa reported that the NFP demanded the IFP give them the Zululand and uThukela district municipalities in exchange for their vote to support Thami Ntuli’s election as KZN premier.
The publication further reported that during negotiations with the NFP, the IFP rejected the party’s request to be given the two district municipalities. However, the IFP emphasised that the talks were not about local government but the national and provincial spheres.
The NFP emerged as the kingmaker in KwaZulu-Natal as no political party achieved an outright majority in the 29 May polls.
The IFP, which received the second-highest votes in the province, formed a government of provincial unity with the Democratic Alliance (DA), the NFP, and the African National Congress (ANC).
On Thursday, IFP candidate Michael Khumalo was elected unanimously on Thursday.
WHAT IS THE BASIS OF THE PARTY’S COMPLAINT?
In the letter, the NFP said they want the IFP provincial executive committee to intervene as it has a number of concerns.
“The IFP is tempering on NFP issues and processes, and we feel that this may affect the Government of Provincial Unity as it stands if not resolved. We feel that that the IFP is hostile and playing cheap and rough politics at the expense of the organisation,” the NFP said.
In addition, the party said they agreed with the IFP that it [IFP] and its members cannot and must not interfere in NFP matter.
“IEC has a mandate through a letter written on 20 June, alerting the Zululand District Municipality manager that Ivan Barnes has been declared elected in ZDM replacing Raymond Nkosi who was a councillor.”