LETTER TO THE EDITOR
THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE
Via email: [email protected]
In the interview with the Sunday Tribune of 30 January 2011, the former IFP National Chairman and Premier of Kwazulu Natal, Dr. FT Mdlalose indicated that he had spoken to me and Mrs Kankosi Shandu to take a request to the President of the IFP Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and here are the facts of this particular matter as far as I can recollect. It was during the Meeting of the IFP Presidential Review Commission established to review some aspects of the Party operations including positions within the Party, where Dr Mdlalose suggested to the Commission that, he wished to relinquish his Position as the National Chairman of the IFP but stay on as the Premier of Kwazulu Natal. The IFP policy at that time was, and still is to have the two positions held simultaneously by one Individual to avoid any possible intra-Party conflict arising from “the two centres of power”.
On realising that the Commission had no authority to approve or reject Dr. Mdlalose’s suggestion, the Matter needed to be reported to the President of the IFP. As the Convenor and the Chair of that Presidential Review Commission, I was the one procedurally responsible to ensure that the report found its way to the President of the Party and the National Council.
After alerting the Commission that I was going to be in Cape Town for that duration and would therefore be unable to personally pass on the report, the Meeting decided to elect Mrs KaNkosi Shandu and any other member of the Commission who would then be free to accompany her to seek an appointment with the IFP President and convey Dr. Mdlalose’s request and I believe the report was conveyed.
Personally, I must admit that it saddens one immensely to see relationships once honourable now relived in a manner hurtful to all concerned. South Africans, together with our social and human institutions have spoken and written a lot about reconciliation and nation building but we have done very little to reconcile even any two individuals of our land and by so doing neglected the genesis of true and lasting reconciliation.
MR BEN SKOSANA MP
HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FORMER MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
