The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said it intends to extend its coalition with the IFP to municipalities after bilateral meetings on Monday.
Speaking to TimesLIVE Premium, ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo confirmed a meeting between the two parties, saying they had expressed a wish to form local government coalitions in all hung municipalities.
IFP KZN chairperson Thami Ntuli led his party’s delegation to the meeting — the first between provincial structures after the national provincial elections.
Ntuli said the meeting was about creating an avenue for talks on issues of contestation and mutual understanding.
“The bilateral meeting was convened today [Monday] between provincial officials of the ANC and the IFP. We have already started to invite the IFP in eThekwini and we are intending to invite the IFP and the DA in KwaDukuza,” he said.
The government of provincial unity (GPU) between the ANC, the IFP and the DA has already borne fruit in eThekwini.
This was evident last week when the parties reached an understanding to split key positions at the eThekwini municipality, ensuring the election of ANC mayor Cyril Xaba unopposed.
Mtolo said the ANC, which currently governs KwaDukuza municipality through a coalition, now wants to introduce co-operation with its GPU partners in that municipality.
“In KwaDukuza we have a municipality that is run by a criminal cartel, but we (ANC) can't intervene because we are working with a shrewd coalition where certain councillors of the ANC are undermining ANC decisions. We want to now include the IFP to work with us so that we get a stable coalition,” he said.
GPU coalitions at hung municipalities will ensure stability, Mtolo added.
Both parties indicated that the GPU was not in a precarious position and the meeting was held to strengthen ties.
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