The IFP is not surprised to learn that the ANC is using underhanded tactics to lure its councillors and its coalition partners in order to collapse IFP led municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal such as Abaqulusi Municipality.
Three ANC senior leaders in Abaqulusi region have been arrested after the police set up. ANC leaders are behind a bid to destroy the IFP through propaganda and money. The ruling party is still intent on removing this stumbling block, the IFP. We are of the view that this is part of the ANC’s bid to consolidate its position while weakening the IFP in municipalities across the province before the 2019 general elections. The move is just another attempt by the ANC to try to dislodge the IFP in power so that the ANC can govern the Zululand District Municipality.
The ANC has begun an intensive campaign to persuade our ward councillors to resign from the councils so that there will be vacancies, which will obviously lead to by-elections. They entice our councillors by promising them financial rewards. The Abaqulusi case is similar to that of Endumeni Municipality where IFP councillors were used by the ANC as Trojan Horse.
We challenge the ANC KZN Provincial leadership to publicly come clean on this issue. The role for MEC for Cogta need Nomusa Dube Ncube need to be scrutinised whether she acts as independent when dealing with interventions.
And so, we will expect any police investigation to ascertain on whose orders they were acting and to dig deep into why the ANC has so much money to bribe councillors. We urge security urgencies as well as the Abaqulusi Municipality to ensure that the family of the councillor is protected.
The IFP will continue to focus on what it was elected to do in Abaqulusi. And that is to improve the lives of the people of this municipality. It will take more than a plot hatched in the ANC’s dirty tricks department to stop us from delivering on our mandate.
End
Issued by:
Mr Blessed Gwala MPL,
IFP National Chaierpson,
078 290 5842
Date: 13 December 2018
