Relations between the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party have broken down and a cloud of political instability is hanging over KwaZulu-Natal. The crisis has been precipitated by the political and personal showdown Premier Lionel Mtshali and provincial ANC leader S'bu Ndebele are about to take to court.
Several IFP leaders have warned of tragic consequences, including possible widespread violence, if ANC-IFP relations worsen. IFP leader Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi recently warned that the relative peace in the province should not be taken for granted.
The court action, in which Mtshali is suing his political nemesis for defamation, comes as Ndebele looks poised to strip him of the premiership amid anticipated defections of IFP provincial MPs - including two who crossed the floor to the ANC on Friday.
Mtshali's attempt to take Ndebele to the cleaners stems from a statement Ndebele made after he (Ndebele) was implicated by alleged informer Clifford Nkuna last year in a plot to assassinate former Nongoma mayor Joseph Sikhonde.
In that statement Ndebele said: "... Amongst many allegations, Nkuna alleges that the Premier, Mr Mtshali, MEC for Transport S'bu Ndebele and Dr Zweli Mkhize were deeply involved in the plot to assassinate Mr Sikhonde to which they contributed money. This allegation is dismissed by the investigating officers and prosecution, and correctly so. But when the same Nkuna makes outrageous allegations against Mr Ndebele and, of all the people, His Majesty the King, it is accepted."
Mtshali argues in court papers that Ndebele's statement is "wrongful and defamatory" as it might be read to mean that he "was a criminal, murderer, had hired an assassin to kill a political opponent, had plotted with other MECs of KwaZulu-Natal (and) was unfit to occupy the office of Premier or any other office in government."
An angry Ndebele said he would defend Mtshali's action and lodge a "counter-claim which will teach some people something". "I've been accused of murder on the day I was sitting with 90% of the ANC national executive committee from the President downward in Johannesburg," Ndebele said.
He explained that his two young daughters were embarrassed at their Westiville school when newspapers reported that their father was a murderer.
Ndebele, who was later vindicated after Nkuna's evidence was torn apart in court and those accused of murdering Sikhonde were acquitted, said he originally wanted to lodge a civil claim against the Minister of Justice, but decided otherwise.
Defections
"(Mtshali's defamation case) is a crazy matter that I am not just defending, but I am making a counter-claim," Ndebele said.
While the two get ready to slug it out in court, relations between the ANC and the IFP suffered a setback after Friday's defections of two IFP MPLs to the ANC.
Their defection was preceded by the IFP swopping five of its provincial MPLs, suspected of being defection candidates, with hardline national MPs to close defection loopholes. Two of those destined for Cape Town crossed to the ANC this week, propelling the ANC to within a whisker of ousting the IFP and have Ndebele as Mtshali's successor.
Buthelezi said the IFP would make "any conceivable and legitimate effort" to keep the premiership. If the IFP loses control of KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC could control all nine provinces and all unicity councils.
The ANC now has 41 out of 80 seats in the provincial legislature, enough to form a provincial government, following the defection of the four MPLs - two from the Democratic Alliance and two from the IFP.
The ANC is already supported by the two-member Minority Front and the three MPLs from the New National Party which is in bed with the ANC nationally.
However, the status of the four defectors is in limbo, pending tomorrow's decision of a Cape High Court full Bench on whether the legislation allowing public representatives to defect without losing their party seats is unconstitutional. United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa obtained a court interdict on Thursday suspending the law.
