03 June 2010

As the ANC ‘takes Parliament to the People’ in Nongoma, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs along with the Hawks are launching an investigation into alleged mismanagement in the local municipality.

“The idea of this multi-pronged exercise is to project the municipality as corrupt and inefficient in the eyes of the people who overwhelmingly elected its political leadership in the 2006 local government elections,” said Leader of the Official Opposition in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi.

The IFP finds it extraordinary that the ANC would invite the Mayor of Nongoma Municipality to the Taking Parliament to the People programme and, at the same time, send a team of investigators to his municipality in terms of section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act.

“The purpose of the investigation is undoubtedly to try and revive the allegations of mismanagement and fraud which were effectively laid to rest last month by the Public Prosecutor,” said Dr Buthelezi.

Last month, the IFP welcomed the withdrawal of corruption charges by the Public Prosecutor against Nongoma Municipality’s Director of Community Services Nelisiwe Mncwango who is also the wife of IFP National Organiser Albert Mncwango. The IFP believed the charges were politically motivated. 

The IFP has condemned the timing of the latest investigation by the provincial department and the Hawks which was clearly designed to distract the Mayor and the political leadership of the municipality from hosting the provincial parliament in Nongoma.

“This runs against the spirit of cooperative governance. Wherever the ANC fails to win power through a democratic process, there it strives to win by underhand practices,” said Dr Buthelezi.

Contact: Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi, 082 516 0156