By Celani Sikhakhane
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says it will stay in the coalition government but is unhappy with Traditional Prime Minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi’s leadership style.
ANC KZN Chair Siboniso Duma told reporters in uMhlanga that Buthelezi is causing problems in the Provincial Government of Unity (PGU).
“While we appreciate the spirit of working together as displayed by other leaders of the IFP in the Executive and in the Legislature, we believe that Buthelezi thinks he is above the PGU and his political party, the IFP. He is very divisive in nature, and his mission is to take us backwards,” said Duma.
The ANC claims Buthelezi, who is also the Traditional Affairs MEC, is targeting traditional leaders for removal and has fired public works staff.
This comes after rumours that the ANC planned to leave the coalition to join the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK).
ANC secretary Bheki Mtolo told IFP Chair Thami Ntuli they would never work with MK, which reportedly wanted former Premier Willies Mchunu as their leader.
The ANC also complained about the DA trying to remove their speaker in KwaDukuza but said they’ll keep working with them in the coalition.
The party has struggled since losing power in KZN after 20 years, dropping from 44 to 14 seats after May’s elections. This forced them to cut staff and close offices.
Many ANC leaders in the coalition feared losing their jobs and benefits if the party left the PGU, where they hold three MEC posts, the speaker position, and committee chairs in partnership with the DA, IFP, and NFP.
Pictured above: Siboniso Duma.
Source: X
