Durban — With elections now firmly behind South Africa, talks have switched to coalitions, and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party is looking for coalition partners after their win in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN).
Many political experts expected the MK Party to be strong contenders in KZN due to former president, Jacob Zuma’s following in the province. In the end, the party emerged victorious with 45.93% of the provincial votes, falling less than 5% short of an outright majority.
MK party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said the party was keen on a coalition with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and said the parties had begun talks even before the elections, IOL reported.
“The IFP and the MK are alike in many ways. Yet, the MK is accused of tribalism while the IFP which, like the MK, upholds traditional values is not. Its pure hypocrisy,” said Ndhlela, adding talks were under way.
Ndhlela also said the party ruled out any sort of alliance with the African National Congress (ANC) or the Democratic Alliance (DA). However, IFP National Chairperson, Blessed Gwala, has downplayed pre-election talks with the new party.
“Perhaps there could have been individuals from both parties who spoke to each other but it was not a formal engagement,” he said.
IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa says he’s confident that a solution on the governing of KwaZulu-Natal post the elections will be found. He says he’s happy that the MK party has approached the courts to challenge the IEC’s decision to declare the elections free and fair.
Watch:… pic.twitter.com/ieppf9IS6B
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 3, 2024
According to EWN, IFP leader, Velenkosi Hlabisa, said the party intended to go into talks to be in power, not the opposition. He said the party has not ruled out talks with anyone at this stage.
“We go into these coalition [talks] humbled by the support given to the IFP by the people of South Africa and we want to be as responsible as possible in taking our country forward.” Hlabisa said,
Meanwhile, The Witness reported that the IFP could enter talks with the ANC, DA and National Freedom Front (NFP), which would give them a collective 40 seats, more than the 37 the MK party has.
The MK Party could form a coalition with the EFF and NFP, but that would not be enough for an outright majority. The DA, who received 13% of votes in KZN, is unlikely to enter a coalition with them.
IFP RULES OUT ANY COALITION WITH MK PARTY
The IFP has all but sealed the fate of Jacob Zuma and his MK Party who will most likely sit on opposition benches in KZN after the IFP confirmed they will not work with the “politically ambiguous, unstable and dangerous MK Party”… pic.twitter.com/CeP3kuyU4o
— Goolam (@goolammv) June 4, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
