22 October 2007

The IFP has repeatedly expressed its concerns about the ruling party’s ingenuity behind the initiative of Taking Parliament to the People, this time in Vryheid. 

“It has happened again. ANC-controlled KwaZulu Natal Provincial Parliament has once again been taken to an IFP stronghold and the event has been hijacked by the ruling party for political gain,” said Leader of the Official Opposition in KwaZulu Natal, Dr Lionel Mtshali. 

The IFP alerts the media to the fact that the ruling party has manipulated the transport arrangements by soliciting guests to the function on a basis entirely different from the one approved by Parliament. 

“People are being bussed to the Vryheid venue by ANC-affiliated co-ordinators rather than by councillors appointed by the local municipalities. The local, IFP-run councils, which are hosting the event, are being left in the cold. The ANC obviously wants its own supporters to attend the event,” said Dr Mtshali. 

In his address to the gathering, Dr Mtshali pointed out that rather than political oversight, “the main preoccupation of the provincial parliament is to splash the taxpayers’ money on once-off festivities with the sole purpose of garnering votes for the ANC in whatever election follows next. This is cynicism at its worst.” 

Dr Mtshali also reminded the public that the ANC has done nothing for the local people apart from paying a pompous and wasteful visit to the area, billed as Premier’s Imbizo. “If the Premier had truly cared about the people of AbaQulusi, his provincial government would have sent to this area disaster relief following extensive floods in December 2006. But he did not,” said Dr Mtshali. 

Leader of the Official Opposition also noted that over the past year, the municipality had had visits from the MECs for Health; Welfare and Population Development; Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs; Agriculture; Transport; and Community Safety. “All of these individuals made ample promises to the local community. None of these individuals, however, ever delivered on a single promise,” said Dr Mtshali. 

Contact: Dr Lionel Mtshali, 083 256 4902