AfriForum leader Kallie Kriel shaking hands with MKP leader Jacob Zuma during a meeting in Durban, where they discussed issues of land and culture.
Image: X
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) says its leader, Jacob Zuma, set the record straight with AfriForum leader Kallie Kriel in a meeting the two leaders held this week in Durban.
MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said Zuma rejected the idea of exclusively white self-determination territories like Orania town, in the Northern Cape, and said this will be done away with under the MKP government.
Ndhlela said Kriel requested the meeting that took place on Thursday.
According to Kriel’s post on X, he and Zuma discussed issues such as the value of mother tongue education, the promotion of mutual recognition and respect between cultural communities, agricultural development in traditional communities, and Section 235 of the South African Constitution.
Section 235 recognises the right of self-determination for communities sharing a common cultural and language heritage.
MKP MPs have moved in Parliament to introduce a bill to remove Section 235 from the Constitution, following a move to make the Western Cape an independent state from South Africa.
“When it comes to self-determination of life in Orania, we said we are seeking to scrap that, as we say, we cannot allow that to happen based on cultural association or affiliation.
“We are very clear that we are not going to exchange that, we are not going to hold back on that, and we are going to continue with that unapologetically so,” said Ndhlela.
He said AfriForum, which is a civic organisation and not a political party, chose to hold the meeting with Zuma because it felt that MKP is a formidable political force in this country.
“He (Kriel) felt that he should speak to President Zuma and engage with the MKP because he felt that MKP, more than anything else, signals being the future of this country and governing this country as he can see that it is going to happen.”
He said AfriForum’s support for self-determination was in contrast with the MKP objectives.
“But we told them that we are uncompromising on land, as it should go back to kings and queens,” he said.
He said that upon realising the MKP was unapologetic in opposing racially-based self-determination, Kriel proposed development programmes between black and white farmers, which Zuma welcomed and requested to know the modalities around that.
Ndhlela said the 30-minute meeting was too short to discuss other issues, such as the false information given to United States President Donald Trump regarding white genocide targeting Afrikaner farmers in South Africa.
“He (Kriel) did not bring that up, but he focused on the issue of self-determination, land, and the bill we submitted in Parliament,” he said.
He said if there were discussions aimed at building good relationships between black and white people, they must not be a perpetuation of poverty and “landlessness”.
“They must not be a perpetuation of special segregation against black people. They must not perpetuate racism and leave us out of the economy. Any inequality in this country needs to be ended, as bridging the gap between races) does not mean giving in.
“Bridging and consensus in a form of dialogue must address the imbalances and inequalities of the past because the discussion and dialogues must facilitate outcomes that are going to benefit the majority and not allow the minority to hold on to power when it comes to the economy or land,” he said.
When approached for comment about the meeting, Kriel said he could not disclose details of the discussion.
“The meeting took place after I requested such a meeting, and as you will see on my post, it is part of our goal to create a better future by entering into discussions with all groupings in the country, especially regarding issues that affect culture and cultural communities.
“But I cannot give any further information as we did not decide on giving details regarding what was discussed at the end of the meeting,” said Kriel.
In his X post, Kriel said more meetings will follow.
He wrote that AfriForum was an organisation outside of party politics and was working for the next generation rather than the next election.
“In securing a better future for the next generation, we are committed to engaging with all stakeholders in South Africa, even though we may differ on certain issues. We are committed to helping find solutions to the challenges the country and all its people face.”
University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said both MKP and AfriForum have common features of being conservative.
“If you look at the fact that the MKP supports that amakhosi should have a role in the government, it is more conservative and is actually leaning to the right. So they might find common ground with AfriForum,” said Ndlovu.
He said by holding such discussions, AfriForum might be trying to change the perception that it was not patriotic because of the complaint it made to Trump.
“I think they are trying to correct that. I think that dealing with parties like MKP and the country's president (Cyril Ramaphosa) will change that perception,” Ndlovu said.
bongani.hans@inl.co.za