IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa.
Image: File: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has urged the Democratic Alliance (DA) not to dismantle the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) if it is removed from the Government of National Unity (GNU). This appeal comes in the wake of growing tensions between the DA and the ANC, sparked by the DA's decision to vote against the adoption of the budget speech last week.
Addressing the media after its two-day national executive committee (NEC) meeting over the weekend, party president Velenkosini Hlabisa said the concern was raised by the IFP NEC members amid the strained relationship between the ANC and the DA.
Hlabisa said the conclusion that the DA would not pull out from the GPU was informed by its previous decision in the Gauteng Metros, where it did not ditch the GNU after it was removed from all Gauteng Metros.
“We are confident that if it comes to a push that the DA leaves the GNU, it will not affect the stable government of KwaZulu-Natal.
"It would be unreasonable for anybody to want to see the national instability cascading to the province. It never happened when the DA was removed in Tshwane, City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni; the party did not pull out from the GNU, so we do not think that if it leaves the GNU, it will want to cause disruptions in the province,” Hlabisa said.
He added that even when the DA was not included in the Gauteng Provincial Government of Unity, it did not pull out from the GNU.
Furthermore, Hlabisa said his party was very much committed to the GNU and had no intention to leave, saying it would rather strengthen it by ensuring that all promises made on the budget were fulfilled.
Hlabisa said his party will monitor everything in the departments to ensure that the budget allocations are indeed being channelled to services that were announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
Outlining his party's decision to vote for the passing of the budget last week, Hlabisa said his party was happy that the budget would ensure the employment of unemployed teachers, nurses and doctors, which was highlighted in the party’s election campaign.
He further stated that the president would call an emergency cabinet meeting where the measures to grow the economy would be discussed so that the current Value Added Tax (VAT) increase would be a temporary measure.
IFP is leading the GPU in KwaZulu-Natal, working with the ANC, DA and the National Freedom Party (NFP).
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