The National Freedom Party (NFP) has accused the ANC of intimidation tactics to coerce the party into rejoining the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal following its recent withdrawal from the coalition.
In an exclusive interview with , NFP leader Ivan Barnes said his party rejected the ANC’s approach at their recent meeting.
“They basically warned us that the GPU will collapse and the NFP may not be able to return to government if that happens, as it will leave the door open for the EFF to join the coalition,” Barnes told . “We said we don’t care. Our position is based on principle and is politically mandated by what our party stands for.
“It’s only then that their tone changed. The ANC then became somewhat apologetic and said they wanted us back in the GPU. We told them to return with a presentation for us to consider. There was no offer on the table and we were not willing to entertain any offer except what was agreed to by all coalition partners when the GPU was formed,” explained Barnes.
At the heart of this, says Barnes, is the issue of local governance — and how coalition partners reneged on an agreed plan to govern collectively across 12 local municipalities.
“One week after the GPU was formed, we sat down as coalition partners — the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP — and agreed on how to govern as a coalition in 12 municipalities in the province. This included Zululand, Nongoma, Alfred Duma, uMkhanyakude, Mtubatuba and even eThekwini. We all agreed on this. What happened afterwards is the IFP and ANC governed in many of these municipalities and the NFP was left out. All our talk and reminders on the agreement to govern collectively fell on deaf ears. They went back on their word and completely undermined and disrespected us as a party,” added Barnes.
His comments follow the dramatic recent withdrawal of the NFP from the GPU following an uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party-backed vote of no confidence against KZN Premier Thami Ntuli – IFP leader in KZN. The vote hinged, critically, on the swing vote of the NFP’s sole representative in the provincial legislature, Mbali Shinga, who was directed by the party to support the vote to oust the premier. Instead, she defied party lines and abstained — leading to a win for Ntuli and defeat of the vote to remove him. This triggered her suspension and the withdrawal of the NFP from the GPU.
That move sent shockwaves within the GPU, prompting coalition parties to seek urgent talks with the NFP to avoid another vote of no confidence. There are fears within the GPU that without Shinga, the vote will likely succeed, leading to the collapse of the GPU and the strong possibility of an MK-backed government in KZN.
However, Barnes is unfazed and insists his party would support the vote of no confidence as GPU partners failed to keep to the agreement on local government power-sharing. He also hit back at his former GPU partners for speaking to individuals within the NFP and ignoring party leaders — a reference to Shinga who was praised by the GPU for not supporting the failed vote of no confidence against Ntuli.
“They now want to talk to us after disrespecting the leadership of the NFP. They thought they had the NFP under control by speaking to individuals. But those individuals are not there in the GPU in their own capacity; they are party deployees,” added an infuriated Barnes.
While the ANC has asked the NFP to return to the GPU, said Barnes, his party will consider all presentations once they have met with all GPU partners.
“We can’t make a decision based on one party when there are four parties in the GPU. We are meeting the DA this Saturday and will also listen to what they have to say. We will then wait to hear from the IFP which has not requested a meeting. If they do, it’s ok; if we don’t get any agreement that’s also OK. We are prepared to be in opposition rather than sacrifice our principles. We must be respected as a party,” added Barnes.
Shinga is also expected to face the NFP’s disciplinary hearing this week. Her previous hearing broke out into a fierce battle between those factions supporting her and those backing Barnes.
Politics
