Coalition pact on track, parties say

THE ANC and the African Independent Congress (AIC) are presenting a united front in their bid to resolve one of their vital coalition agreements – the integration of Matatiele back into KwaZulu-Natal.

Yesterday, neither party would reveal any further details about the transfer of the region from the Eastern Cape back to KZN. Speaking at Luthuli House in Joburg, where the ANC’s top six gathered to give a report-back on the special national executive committee meeting at the weekend, ANC secretarygeneral Gwede Mantashe noted that Matatiele was not included on the agenda of the committee’s meeting.

“There’s a team dealing with that led by (Minister in the Presidency) Comrade Jeff (Radebe),” Mantashe told journalists at a media briefing.

Equally, the AIC would not say much, except that the coalition was still on. “Nothing has changed. Both parties met on Saturday, March 18, to hold talks and we still hold the same views,” AIC secretary-general Mahlebenzima Jafta said.

He said his party’s demands remained the same – to see the ANC fulfil its promise on Matatiele.

The AIC previously warned that failure by the ANC to ensure that the relocation happened would ultimately see them withdraw from the coalition and the ANC losing Ekurhuleni, the only municipality the ruling party governs in Gauteng.

Although there have already been several postponements, there is renewed hope for the small party that the meeting held two weeks ago by Radebe and the AIC leadership will yield positive results.

But in order for the relocation to materialise, the matter needs to be tabled before Parliament.