Issued by: North West Communication Service
MEDIA RELEASE ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF NATIONAL PARTY FROM GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY IN THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE
The Government of the North West Province regrets the decision by the Federal Council of the National Party yesterday to withdraw its members from Government of National Unity in the Province of the North West. Nevertheless, the North West Government respect the decision of the National Party.
We find it strange and mind boggling that whilst the NP professes its commitment to the need for consensus at Executive level, it nevertheless considered it prudent to resign from the Government of National Unity whose term of office only expires during 1999. Why could they not wait for 1999?
How does the NP explain the fact that on 8 May it voted for a democratic constitution and the very next day it withdrew from Government of National Unity ostensibly because they were unhappy with the provisions of that self same constitution. This remains both a paradox and the greatest irony of our politics.
The withdrawal from all eight provinces save the Western Cape where the NP is the majority party, suggests that the Nats have not yet come to terms with the need to cooperate with other parties. The Nats seem still steeped in the colonial racist paternalism and the syndrome of white baaskap.
They want a relationship in which they are solely in control of government. If they are not in control, they would rather leave government.
This recent action is indicative of increasing political bankruptcy and organisational crisis in the ranks of the NP. Frankly speaking, they have shot themselves in the foot.
It can only be hoped that their proclaimed commitment to constructive participation which is repeated in virtually all media interviews is not a mere ritual which will soon be proven wrong by the actions of the NP on the ground.
In the North West, we had only one NP in the Cabinet. His withdrawal will not impact negatively on the ability of the ANC to govern. On the contrary, we are all determined to pursue the vision of Reconstruction and Development Programme which underpins the North West Macro Development Perspective.
For us, 1996 will be another success story. We urge the people of the North West to continue their cooperation with the Government and never to shift their focus from the challenge of thorough transformation of our society. We have achieved a lot in the last two years. We cannot and must not slide back to the apartheid and Bantustan rule days.
The ANC in government wants to assure the majority of the people in the Province that it is capable of leading the government and deliver on its promises as it has proven in the past two years of heading the first democratic government of this country and all the provinces.
Issued by the Office of the Premier.
Contact Person : Willie Modise 0825584087 or 844596/8 15 May 1996