Demise of Government of National Unity
Prior to the 2004 elections President Thabo Mbeki refused to sign into law Buthelezi's attempt to overhaul the Immigration laws. For the first time in South African history a Cabinet Minister took the President to court in an attempt to secure stricter immigration regulations.
After the 2004 elections President Thabo Mbeki offered Buthelezi the Deputy Presidency, which he refused, as in exchange the IFP would have to relinquish the Premiership of the IFP-dominated province of KwaZulu-Natal. Since 1994, South Africa was governed by a multi-party Government of National Unity, including the ANC, the South African Communist Party and the Congress of South African Trade Unions. By the time of the 1999 elections this transitional condition fell away, but the majority ANC government again invited the IFP to join it in government. After the 2004 elections, with Buthelezi declining the Deputy Presidency, the IFP left the coalition government and sat in the opposition benches.
Buthelezi remained a Member of Parliament after the April 2009 general election.
Read more about this topic: Mangosuthu Buthelezi
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