Durban — The Democratic Alliance (DA) is firmly in support of the Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP) Thami Ntuli to be the premier in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN).
With Parliament set to announce the Members of Parliament (MPs) for the National and Provincial Legislatures today, the KZN is one of the provinces that remains up for grabs after no party managed to get a majority vote. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party received 45% of the votes, and looked to get into a coalition with the IFP.
Despite the MK having the most votes in the province, KZN is likely to be governed by a coalition comprising the IFP, DA, African National Congress (ANC) and National Freedom Party (NFP). The DA said it would support the IFP’s Thami Ntuli as the province’s premier, EWN reported.
“We met yesterday [Thursday] as the DA, ANC, IFP and NFP and decided that as the IFP has the highest number of votes, they should lead that government. Obviously, this is subject to a signed agreement by the political parties.” the DA’s Dean MacPherson said.
BREAKING NEWS: The African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have reached a deal to form a government of National Unity, which will also include the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
-SABC News pic.twitter.com/MRlJ2P359a
— The Villager (@thevillagernam) June 14, 2024
Following the announcement of the IFP’s plan to join the DA, ANC and NFP, party leader, Velenkosi Hlabisa, said he was optimistic Ntuli would be elected as KZN premier, IOL reported.
“The IFP is not conditioned to any positions. Thami Ntuli was our premier candidate for KZN during our campaign, he is still our candidate whom we have presented to the leadership of the ANC, DA and the NFP.” he said.
“They have expressed their full support for Ntuli to lead a coalition government at a provincial level to take our province forward. We have met with the NFP, same as the MK,” he added.
Hlabisa said the IPF was committed to a multiparty government and said South Africa purposefully chose to not elect a single party. He said the party’s coalition would take place in Gauteng and KZN. He said the party was willing to enter talks with other parties in Gauteng, despite only wining 0.787% of votes and one seat in the province.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
