The IFP has been angered by Durban Metro City Manager Mike Sutcliffe's unilateral decision not to repair the city's historic organ as part of the ongoing City Hall renovations. 

"Sutcliffe's argument that Durban ratepayers should not pay for the repair of the organ without consultation does not hold water seeing that the ratepayers were never consulted about the costly name changes, but had to pay for them anyway," said Cllr Thembi Nzuza who leads the IFP in the eThekwini Council. 

Sutcliffe's and the ANC's declared commitment to the preservation of Durban's cultural heritage, as the IFP sees it, rings hollow. "The historic organ is one of a kind and an internationally acknowledged tourist site. Giving up on it is an act of cultural barbarism," said Cllr Nzuza. 

The IFP claims that the additional cost of repairs to the organ could have been avoided had the ANC-controlled eThekwini Council prioritised the security of the organ's location. "The theft of imported organ pipes following the last round of repairs was entirely preventable," said Cllr Nzuza. 

The IFP also questions the rationale behind Sutcliffe's preference for the acquisition of a new electronic organ considering that its cost is likely to exceed the cost of repairs to the historic organ estimated at R3-million. "The procurement for a new electronic organ in all likelihood opens room for more corruption than the repairs to the old one," said Cllr Nzuza.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cllr Thembi Nzuza, 083 682 6702