IFP Cooperative Governance and Traditional Events (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi
Withering reaction to ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, IFP Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi said on Monday that the accusations made by the ANC earlier in the day were “the best of political incompetence and tactical opportunism”. It was rejected as “form”.
His statement comes after ANC provincial chairman Siboniso Duma, provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo and ANC KZN deputy chairperson Nomagugu Simelane Zulu publicly criticized Buthelezi at a press conference, calling for a provincial unity government. The announcement came after discord broke out within the GPU, which accused Buthelezi of taking politically motivated actions. Local governments run by traditional leaders and the ANC.
Buthelezi said in a strongly worded statement that he served at the behest of Prime Minister Thamsanka Ntuli, not the ANC.
He hit back, saying it was an attempt to portray him as a “weak figure” within the national unity government and a tactic aimed at undermining his influence.
“I have not received marching orders from the ANC,” Buthelezi said.
He characterized the ANC's comments as an attempt to isolate it from the IFP, saying they stemmed from the party's displeasure with its heavy defeat in the province following the May 29 elections. suggested.
“The ANC needs to accept a dramatic loss of power,” he said, referring to the party's declining influence over years of rule, which he claimed had led to “a breakdown in governance and service delivery” in KwaZulu-Natal. There is,” he said.
Mr Buthelezi said ANC leaders were engaged in a systematic effort to undermine his work as Cogta MEC and traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation.
“None of these tactics by the ANC will intimidate me or prevent me from fulfilling my responsibilities as MEC serving under the IFP Prime Minister,” he declared.
Mr Buthelezi also strongly criticized the ANC's governance record in Cogta province, particularly during the previous government.
He accused the ANC of fostering an environment where “corruption and malfeasance” flourished and said he would not defend any wrongdoing by his predecessor.
“I will not indulge the corruption and wrongdoing that was commonplace in the Cogta Ministry during the sixth government.”
At a press conference on Monday to mark the 100th day of the state unity government, Duma said Buthelezi was “divisive” and the Democratic Alliance was uncooperative.
He said ANC officials had received complaints from traditional leaders about Buthelezi's actions and believed they were politically motivated.
“Our mission is to protect the supremacy of Izinduna,” Prime Minister Duma said.
Further allegations against Buthelezi reportedly included termination of contracts of workers related to the Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) at his direction.
MPs said Mr Buthelezi's actions were not consistent with the GNU's goals and risked alienating the workers and traditional leaders who have worked to maintain support in rural areas.
“Mr Buthelezi believes he is better than the GNU and his party, the IFP. He is a very divisive character by nature and his mission is to set us back. ” Duma said.
Despite the situation, Prime Minister Duma said the coalition government will continue to provide services to KZN residents for the next five years.
Speaking at the same press conference, Simelane Zulu said there was “no tension” within the unity government and that the ANC was working well with the IFP leadership, but that Buthelezi was a “rotten potato”.
She said Mr Buthelezi had used his position since being appointed MEC to “score results” by “going after” ANC-run municipalities in the province.
She said the ANC did not accept Mr Buthelezi's actions and was working with the IFP leadership on the issue.
