Political deadlock: IFP and NFP struggle to agree on meeting date for GPU talks
The uncertainty over the Government of Provincial Unity’s future (GPU) is continuing as the IFP and the NFP do not agree on a date for their meeting.
The NFP proposed Sunday, but the IFP has yet to confirm or accept this date.
On Tuesday, the NFP acting Secretary-General, Sunset Xaba, said his party proposed Sunday as opposed to Monday; however, the IFP has not responded confirming or rejecting the proposed date.
“The challenge is that the IFP, through Blessed Gwala, their national chairperson, has not responded or confirmed the date of 15 February we proposed, hence we shall take it that they do not want to meet us,” said Xaba.
Last week, the IFP wrote to the NFP requesting to meet either on Monday (yesterday) or next Monday; however, the NFP wrote back saying it would be unavailable on the proposed dates and requested that the meeting take place on Sunday.
The IFP National Spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, had not responded to questions sent to him about why his party had not responded to the NFP’s proposed new date.
The two parties’ meeting is regarded as a make-or-break that will determine whether the NFP will stay or leave the GPU. This is because the IFP is a leading party and the NFP is a kingmaker.
The NFP has met other GPU partners – the ANC and the DA over the future of NFP in the GPU. The DA then proposed a meeting of all GPU partners, including the NFP; however, that did not take place because the NFP argued that it was pointless to attend that meeting without having met the IFP first, and accused the IFP of running away from meeting with it.
The IFP’s purported shunning of the NFP angered the GPU partners, particularly the DA, which petitioned the IFP, demanding the reason for not honouring a meeting with the NFP.
On the other hand, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) is continuing to pursue the NFP and the EFF to discuss their new motion that the party plans to file.
On Saturday, the MKP and NFP were scheduled to meet; however, the meeting was cancelled at the last minute. It was alleged that there were death threats made to the people who were going to attend the meeting.
The MKP Provincial Leader, Willes Mchunu, said the party will meet both the NFP and the EFF to discuss the new motion of no confidence to remove Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli.
“Although details about the specific dates are being handled by our Secretary-General Dr Bongani Mncwango, or Deputy President, Tony Yengeni, I can confirm that we are going to meet the NFP and the EFF soon,” said Mchunu.
EFF Provincial Secretary Vukani Ndlovu confirmed that there are informal engagements with the MKP; however, the date of the meeting has not been confirmed.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za