SPECULATION that the National Freedom Party (NFP) has agreed to vote for the ANC in the upcoming Local Government Elections is purely rumour and unfounded allegations.
This was the sentiment of the NFP in uThungulu District, addressing a media briefing at their Empangeni Offices on Tuesday.
NFP District Campaign Manager Khulekani Mthethwa said his party has learnt with shock of the utterances made by the ANC Musa Dladla Regional Chairperson, Nonhle Mkhulisi.
Mkhulisi is alleged to have told an SABC radio station that there had been an understanding between NFP members and the ANC as to who to vote for in the Municipal Elections, as the NFP was still embroiled in court cases in their quest to contest the municipal elections.
‘Firstly we would like the Regional Leader of the ANC to withdraw the statement she made over the radio with immediate effect.
‘Secondly, we wish to reassure our members that the NFP will be going into this election alone.
‘We have no plans of voting for any other party, even if we are not successful in our bid to contest the municipal polls.
‘We can never be party to negotiations that aim to write our political obituary as the NFP.
‘Our values and integrity as a party are at stake here, and there is no way we can entertain such talks.
‘We are surging ahead with our election campaigns. All our 105 Ward Candidates are waiting to deliver services to the people of uThungulu.
‘We remain focused on one mission, which is to win the elections.
‘We admit though that our current situation has some how lowered the morale of our election campaign.
‘We have said it in the past, and we are saying it again, that even if the Friday Constitutional Court judgement does not favour us, we will not vote at all next Wednesday.
‘We will not even go near the voting stations or cause any disruptions.
‘We will respect the right of other parties to exercise their voting powers on election day. We are a very disciplined movement.’
Mthethwa said they were putting up election posters as if nothing has happened.
‘We are inviting the media to join us in Melmoth this Friday, as we will be celebrating the Constitutional Court judgement, which we have no doubt will bring us back into the game,’ he said.
When asked for comment, ANC Regional Chairperson Nonhle Mkhulisi said she does not recall ever making such utterances.
‘This is news to me. I vehemently distance myself from making such statement.
‘I don’t even have the mandate to make such a statement. The relations between the ANC and the NFP are only discussed at a provincial level, and I’m a regional leader. They must check their records,’ she said.
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