The new National Freedom Party (NFP), led by Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, will apparently have no significant impact on the ANC’s standing in KwaZulu-Natal and is not considered a threat.
This according to ANC provincial chairman, Zweli Mkhize, who said in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday the ANC had obtained 62 percent of the votes in the province in the previous elections, when the IFP was united.
He said that the breakaway party announced on Tuesday would not erode the ANC’s support in the province.
Mkhize dismissed as “baseless” allegations that the ANC had “sponsored” the party, that it had coerced KaMagwaza-Msibi to establish the party and that it had taken a decision to accommodate her in its ranks and offer her an MEC position.
“The leaders of the IFP have become victims of their own internal dirty tricks. There are lots of rumours circulating and I would dismiss the lot,” Mkhize said.
He added that the NFP should respect the rules of a violence-free campaign.
Cosatu’s provincial secretary, Zet Luzipo, echoed these sentiments, adding that all the problems in the IFP had been caused by its leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and his team.
“All the problems in the IFP are of his (Buthelezi’s) own creation together with his team which unfortunately included their former chairperson.
“We have no time to waste on a party that has been sliding towards its natural death since 1994. It is this leader of the IFP who betrayed Luthuli by deserting the ANC and betrayed the revolution and the trust of Oliver Tambo… he ( Buthelezi) seems to be suffering from being a political somnambulist…
“If we were to believe these wild allegations; where was he as a leader… when the ANC was destabilising their organisation… If they are not serious even the 18 they have in the legislature will be reduced by 2014 to a number that can only require a metered taxi,” he said.- Pietermaritzburg Bureau