IFP KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Dr Andile Biyela says the IFP was arranging to have engagements with the NFP to stabilise the GPU.
Image: Facebook
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has chosen to keep its strategy to topple the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) a secret despite a letter circulating on social media indicating that it will hold a meeting with the National Freedom Party (NFP) on Sunday.
The letter, bearing what looked like NFP’s Acting Secretary General Sunset Xaba’s signature and NFP’s letterhead, indicates that the MKP will on Sunday hold a meeting with certain political parties at a venue yet to be confirmed.
The letter, dated March 3, was appreciative of receiving a correspondence from MKP Deputy President Tony Yengeni inviting NFP leadership to participate in a forthcoming coalition government discussions in the province.
“We welcome this progressive initiative and hereby affirm our readiness and commitment to attend the meeting scheduled for 8 March 2026. The party will await your confirmation regarding the venue and time,” read the letter.
It further stated that the NFP approaches the deliberations with a spirit of unity and responsibility.
“Mindful of the historic task before us to consolidate stability, advance inclusive governance, and ensure that the people of KwaZulu-Natal experience tangible improvements in service delivery and quality of life,” read the letter.
It remains unclear how many parties would participate in the meeting, if it would sit.
Attempts to get Xaba to confirm the authenticity of the letter have not succeeded, as he could not answer his phone or respond to questions sent to him.
MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said he would not respond to questions about a letter that has been leaked to social media.
“I cannot respond to a letter that is circulating on social media because the letter might not be authentic,” said Ndhlela.
He said even if there was such a meeting, he would not reveal it in public.
“Think about it, would you go and talk about such a meeting and tell your enemies that this is what you are going to do?” he said.
Asked if the people of KwaZulu-Natal did not deserve to know what the MKP, which received more votes than other parties in the province during the general elections, was doing to take over the provincial government, he said “no”.
“All that the people of KwaZulu-Natal want is their province back. Once we have sorted out whatever we need to sort out in whatever platform or whatever engagement or approach, we will inform them.
“But why would we want to inform our enemies even if there is a meeting?” he said.
The former president Jacob Zuma-led party tabled the first motion against the Cabinet in December, but it fell flat as the majority of the MPLs voted against it.
The MKP, which had the backing of the EFF, had placed its hope on the NFP's only seat to get numbers to vote in favour of the motion.
However, the NFP’s only MPL, Mbali Shinga, who is the Social Development MEC in the GPU, voted against it.
Shinga is currently facing disciplinary action for defying the party's instruction to step out of the GPU and to also vote for the motion. If she is found guilty, her membership in the party could be terminated.
MKP MPL Siphiwe Moyo recently told the media that the party would table a new motion before June.
There have been several secret engagements between the parties represented in the provincial legislature to resolve an impulse that seems to threaten the GPU.
IFP provincial spokesperson Dr Andile Biyela said he was not aware of Sunday’s meeting or an invitation.
Biyela said the IFP was currently preparing to talk with the NFP, seeking to stabilise the GPU.
“I can place on record that our leadership has made arrangements for engaging with the leadership of the NFP to ensure that there is continuation in the current arrangement, and we are trying to find each other where there are areas of discomfort between the NFP and NFP,” he said.
When the NFP announced that it was pulling out of the GPU, it accused the IFP of having failed to honour its promise to give it some of the municipalities, including the Zululand District Municipality, during the formation of the GPU.
Buyela declined to say whether the IFP would give the NFP whatever it wanted.
“I would be then pre-empting the discussions if I were to go to that space, of which I respectfully declined. Those are some of the aspects that form part of engagements where each party tables their demands and negotiates.
“At this point, it would not be correct for me as an individual to speak on behalf of the party, saying we are going to give them this, we are not going to give them that. It is beyond my authority,” said Biyela.
Biyela expressed concern that the threats against the GPU were making provincial residents and the business community uncomfortable.
“Political uncertainty also affects the business environment, as business people would not want to be in a province where there is political uncertainty, because that affects several decisions.
“So if the political uncertainties are being planned in advance, they are unhealthy for any province that wants to pursue a form of stability,” said Biyela.
He said he could not conclude that the GPU was currently vulnerable.
“But I would say we have a situation where a certain political party does not want to accept the GPU.
“The failure by the opposition to accept that there is this government is what is causing the instability. But the GPU is not vulnerable and is delivering its mandate,” he said.
Biyela called on the EFF and MKP, who are occupying the opposition benches in the provincial legislature, to use legal processes in opposing the decision of the GPU.
“If they are unhappy with service delivery, they should point out those areas of discomfort and propose solutions so that the government can improve.
“Their focus is not on interrogating matters of service delivery; their focus is on toppling the government so that they take over, and therefore it is a very strange politics,” said Biyela.
bongani.hans@inl.co.za