Man standing behind a podium. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cogta Thulasizwe Buthelezi. Picture: Supplied.
ATTEMPTS by the MEC for Cogta Thulasizwe Buthelezi to open his offices in Ulundi were thwarted by the IFP’s coalition partners in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) who view his actions in recent months as a threat to the stability of their working relationship.
Buthelezi is also the prime minister of the Zulu nation. An opening ceremony for Buthelezi’s Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) office was scheduled for last week and was set to be presided over by Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini.
However, Premier Thami Ntuli, who is also the IFP provincial chairperson, announced that the move had been postponed as it was not in accordance with the ministerial handbook.
The IFP’s coalition partners are understood to have raised Buthelezi’s decision with Ntuli, quoting political and financial considerations, and asked that the move be put on hold.
Sources in the IFP and ANC said that both informal and formal discussions had been taking place with the IFP over Buthelezi’s role both as MEC and as traditional prime minister and the impact this was having on the GPU.
“We are proceeding with the opening of the office for Cogta, however there are technical and administrative arrangements we had to take care of first. The ministerial handbook is categoric about two offices, one in Pietermaritzburg and the other the choice of the member of the executive,” Ntuli said at the time.
He said administrative hurdles would have to be cleared first before an office move to Ulundi could be justified.
A source in the IFP said the canning of the opening of the office was political and not financially motivated.
“There are fears over Buthelezi’s impact on the stability of the government of provincial unity and the government of national unity because he holds the position of MEC but he is also the traditional Zulu prime minister.”
A senior ANC leader said they had also raised concerns over Buthelezi’s interventions in ANC-run municipalities in his role as MEC as this had also allowed him to consolidate his support among the province’s Amakhosi.
Buthelezi, as Cogta MEC, has initiated a programme of integrating Amakhosi into local councils, improving their remuneration and benefits.
He clashed with the ANC provincial leadership over the interventions in municipalities - the most public of these incidents took place in front of President Cyril Ramaphosa and King Misuzulu in March when ANC provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma grabbed the microphone from him at an event to commemorate King Dinizulu KaCetshwayo.
“There have been informal discussions between the coalition partners in the province and the different political parties have different perspectives, different priorities and different and sometimes strong personalities.
“The tension or contradiction has to be managed going forward and the nature of the coalition means there are definitely internal dynamics,” the source said.
KZN treasury MEC and DA provincial leader Francois Rodgers reacted to the postponement of the move of the Cogta offices to Ulundi by saying the Premier’s intervention was welcomed.
Rodgers said Ntuli had correctly pointed out legislation has placed a limit on the number of offices an MEC may have and the decision was taken in recognition of legislation and in the interests of the people of KZN.
ANC provincial spokesperson Mafika Mndebele said the party did not need to have an official discussion with Ntuli regarding the relocation of the Cogta offices to Ulundi.
“The Premier was able to stop the opening of offices and we believe that the Premier is dealing with the situation quite well,” said Mndebele.
He said a political forum had been created where all political parties in the province are represented.
“We are able to ventilate our truth and I can safely say we are concluding the year with a working provincial government of unity,” he said.
Buthelezi yesterday told The Mercury that he would not comment on the matter while Ntuli’s office had not responded to questions at the time of publication.
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