PRESS STATEMENT BY DR LPHM MTSHALI, MPP
NATIONAL CHAIMAN OF THE IFP

Announcement about appointment of Dr. B S Ngubane

Durban: 2 February 2004

We are pleased to announce that IFP Deputy Chairman, DR B S Ngubane has been appointed to serve as the South African Ambassador to Japan. His appointment confirms the quality of leadership, expertise and confidence which the IFP has contributed to the good governance of South Africa in the past 29 years. 

Dr. Ngubane was the Minister of Health in Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi's Cabinet during the erstwhile Kwazulu government, and led the Kwazulu government deligation during some of the most difficult stages of
the negotiation process. He led the famous walkout from negotiation process by the Kwazulu government on July 2 1993, which was followed by a number of other participants including the IFP, and which led to a set of
parallel negotiations which succeeded in entrenching the type of provincial autonomy and constitutional guarantees which the mainstream negotiation had failed to produce and in fact rejected.

Dr Ngubane provided an important IFP contribution to the governance of South Africa for the past 10 years, both as highly competent and effective Minister of Science and Technology and as a well respected and admired Premier of KwaZulu-Natal. 

We wish Dr Ngubane success in his new ambassadorial responsibilities and we are sure through his leadership, South Africa will succeed in strengthening its relations with Japan. The IFP has long advocated the need of strengthening relations with Japan, which ought to become a much closer partner of our country and continent and we see this as a good step in the right direction.


Contact: 
Jon Cayzer, 031 365-1323