The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has criticised KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube for providing an “evasive” and “sarcastic” response to its parliamentary questions on land lease agreements between the Premier’s Office and some members of the Zulu Royal Family.

The party has said that it feels disrespected by Dube-Ncube’s conduct as she requested that the party direct its questions towards Prince Mbonisi Zulu.

The IFP sought to determine the selection procedure used to pick Prince Zulu amongst other members of the Zulu Royal Family for the proposed 30-year farm lease agreement in Blood River (Nquthu). 

Questions were also directed towards ascertaining whether any meetings were held between the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Royal Household Trust, the Office of the Premier and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to discuss the signing of the farm lease and whether Prince Zulu had the necessary qualifications and experience in agricultural activities.

“The IFP directed these questions to the Premier because, as the ‘captain of the ship’, the buck stops at her doorstep. The Office of the Premier is obliged to maintain good relations and strengthen cooperation with opposition parties. We are convinced that the Premier is behaving in such a manner because the IFP, as the Official Opposition in KZN, serves as a watchdog to hold provincial government accountable. The IFP has, on numerous occasions, challenged her to come out of the shadows and clarify issues that are overshadowing her Office,” the party said.

The party has also decried the lack of accountability displayed by the African National Congress (ANC) and expressed its disquiet over the ANC’s appetite for “power” and “self-aggrandisement”, which it believes has reached alarming levels.