Simon Nare
THE multi-party coalition will be composed of the IFP, DA and ANC and talks are still underway to conclude agreements that will see the three parties extending this formation in Gauteng and KZN where the parties were hoping to get the help of the NFP.
IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa at a press conference on Wednesday night revealed that the party will join the “government of national unity” that will include the two parties at national.
“The IFP will join the government of national unity that includes the ANC and DA. In reality, the only options are to become part of the government or the opposition. Talks are still underway with regards to a coalition government in Gauteng and IFP has confirmed its willingness to join the government of provincial unity in Gauteng,” said Hlabisa.
The three parties have more than enough numbers to form a government at national level. They are pushing hard to convince the NFP to join the IFP and DA to form government in KZN. However, the NFP leadership has publicly stated it would consider working with MKP, as the party got more votes in the province.
The three parties will however need the support of the NFP which by Wednesday night had not confirmed participation and had earlier on the day met MK Party leader and former President Jacob Zuma.
NFP leaders met Zuma on Wednesday morning to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition government with the MKP and the EFF in the province.
“The ANC leadership and the DA leadership have expressed their full support of comrade Ntuli to lead a coalition government at a provincial level to take our province forward.
“We want to make it clear that we would only get the mandate from IFP supporters,” he said.
Hlabisa confirmed that a meeting was scheduled between his party and the MK party for Monday late afternoon but the party delegation didn’t show up even though the IFP delegation waited for hours. He said the party was still open for MK to hold negotiations to take the country forward.
“I can place it on record that a meeting between the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP was held this morning. The MK and IFP meeting was scheduled for [last] Monday afternoon.
“Our team had to wait for two hours and was informed that the delegation was running late. The IFP team dispersed, comrade Mkhuleko Hlengwa remained and waited for another two hours, but no one pitched… There are other attempts to meet the MK party, so we can engage them on the common cause,” Hlabisa revealed.
Hlabisa said the mandate the party received from the electorate was for the IFP to contribute effectively to the governance of the country.
The Sunday World reported on Wednesday that talks between the MKP and the IFP collapsed over the allocation of positions after the IFP allegedly demanded it wanted to control 60% of the provincial government as the condition to enter into a coalition government with the MKP.
The DA is expected to announce its position later today while the ANC will have a special national executive committee meeting after which the governing party could also spellout its position.
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