8th February 2009 

The Inkatha Freedom Party today called on the KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Dr Sbusiso Ndebele to immediately suspend the Head of the Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Ms Stella Khumalo. The IFP statement follows reports in one Sunday newspaper which indicate that Ms Khumalo is being investigated by the Public Service Commission on allegations of employing unqualified people and some who do not have Driver's Licences, and, for interfering in the tender process in favour of particular companies. Speaking on behalf of the IFP, IFP MPL Joshua Mazibuko said:

"While the allegations around Ms Stella Khumalo are shocking, they do not surprise the IFP because they echo questions we raised in November last year in the Legislature, about one official who was allegedly employed despite having no Driver's Licence and who was later rewarded with an acting position in the eThekwini Cluster. As is customary of the ANC government, the MEC for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Weziwe Thusi, instead of responding factually to the questions, decided to ridicule us.

"Now that there is an investigation going on, we want to call on the Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal, to immediately suspend Ms Khumalo until the investigation has run its course. That is the right thing to do."

Contact:
M. Joshua Mazibuko   072 927 0993
IFP MPL