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The Official Opposition in KwaZulu-Natal, iNkatha Freedom Party, has
reacted to the Media Statement issued today by Premier Zweli Mkhize
where he made a call to leaders of political parties to support
Government's Program of Action. Commenting on the Premier's call, the
Leader of the Official Opposition, Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi stated:

"As Leader of the Official Opposition, it behooves me to react to
Premier Mkhize'call he made today for support of the Program of Action
of his government. Dr Mkhize's statement deals with three subjects:
Partnership for the Fight against HIV and AIDS; Provincial Government
Act on uMngeni Municipality; and the Turn-around Strategy for the Royal
Household.

"Partnership for the Fight against HIV and AIDS
As history will tell, the IFP has always been committed to the war
against HIV and AIDS. When we were governing this Province, we took the
national government to court over this issue - not because we were
engaged in political gimmicks. Therefore the Premier can count on our
full support on the fight against the pandemic.

"However, our commitment is primarily in principle as we still have to
look critically at the statement the Premier has issued. But even though
one has had a cursory look at the statement, one has come to notice that
it is silent on the matter of abstention from sex, which in the IFP's
view, is one of the critical elements of the strategy against HIV-AIDS.
Secondly, I have noticed that, while the Premier has touched on
circumcision, he decided to be silent on virginity-testing, a matter
that has been the subject of much debate in this Province and which we
believe has a contribution.

"Again as the IFP we would like to caution that in most cases, useful
and beneficial government programs get spoilt by the interference of
party-political interests which turn these programs into political-
party driven initiatives which then tend to leave out those seen as
outsiders."

On the Provincial Government Act on uMngeni Municipality, Dr Buthelezi
stated:
"We fully support and applaud the Premier's move against the uMngeni
Municipality and the results of such a move. As a party committed to
clean government and to the service of the people, we will always
cooperate with government in efforts to eradicate all forms corruption
and maladministration wherever they rear their ugly heads. In addition
we support all programs to empower our municipalities."

Commenting on the Turn-around Strategy for the Royal Household,
Buthelezi stated that the IFP's position is well-known that they are not
in favour of the disbandment of the Department of the Royal Household in
favour of the Trust. However, he continued, "we are prepared to work
with government to see that their initiative is reaping the desired
fruits. We fully agree too that the Department of the Royal Household
must operate within the confines of the PFMA.

"Having said that, we wish to caution however that government must
always ensure that issues around the Royal Family are handled with the
dignity and care they deserve. In our view this Department is dealing
with unique issues and circumstances which need cool heads whose mission
is to enhance the Monarchy rather than destroy it.

"We are disturbed to see that the Board appointed to oversee the Trust
seems to reflect the preponderance of a particular political school of
thought. And one glaring shortcoming in the composition of the Board is
the minuscule representation of the traditional leadership. We wonder if
the House of Traditional Leaders was consulted in so far as the
composition is concerned and whether they advised that one iNkosi is
enough representation in the Trust."

Concluding his comments, Dr Buthelezi stated that, in the same spirit of
calling for cooperation from political parties, he hopes that the
Premier will find time to engage the Official Opposition in discussions
to iron out some misgivings and divergent outlooks they may have.