The IFP calls on the ANC to root out corruption at municipalities that it leads after a former Speaker of Harry Gwala District Municipality, Mandla Ngcobo, wrote to President Jacob Zuma requesting him to institute an investigation into the wide-scale “looting of public funds”.
“President Zuma must take up this matter urgently as he did when he authorised the SIU to investigate matters relating to the affairs of the KZN Provincial Treasury. President Zuma has a constitutional obligation to take swift action against corruption. We fully support and commend Mr Ngcobo’s efforts to expose corruption in the ANC- led Municipality but the ANC decided to discipline him just because he exposed its dirty linen. The ANC must cleanse itself of tendencies of corruption and abuse of power,” said IFP National Chairperson, Mr Blessed Gwala.
“We demand that the Harry Gwala District Mayor, Mluleki Ndobe must tell us why costs were inflated in the awarding of tenders for security services, where there was an excess payment of R12m, taking the total cost to R22m and a training contract cost R2.5m and the cost of a consultancy to investigate these tenders costing R10m.
Mr Ngcobo has been bold enough to expose these corrupt payments and has provided evidence. We want to see action being taken against the Mayor, his executive and all those involved,” continued Mr Gwala.
“We want to see the MEC of COGTA Nomusa Dube-Ncube leading the investigations. But we are convinced that the MEC will turn a blind eye just because she will protect her comrades, as she did in the corruption matters involving uMkhanyakude, Mandeni, Jozini and other municipalities. If Premier Senzo Mchunu is indeed serious about leading a clean government, he must instruct MEC Dube-Ncube to act against these allegations. To eradicate corruption we require individuals who are incorruptible. We need good men and women to assist us by taking a stand and not turning a blind eye to corruption,” concluded Mr Gwala.
The IFP will pursue this matter in the KZN Legislature by submitting written questions in order to demand answers from the MEC of COGTA about what strategies she has to eradicate the scourge of corruption in most KZN municipalities.
Issued by:
Mr Blessed Gwala, IFP National Chairperson, 078 290 5842
For Media Enquiries:
Mr Phendulani Biyase, IFP KZN Legislature Media Officer, 073 024 5675