The Editor
Letter to the Editor
25 January 2017
The Inkatha Freedom Party in KwaZulu-Natal feels vindicated on the issue of the irregular goings on in the KZN Treasury after the KZN Premier intervened and overruled the MEC of Finance, Belinda Scott who threatened to take the report of the former public protector, Thuli Madonsela on judicial review.
As the IFP we have been very vocal on the issue of the corruption that is happening in the KZN Treasury and the failure of the MEC to implement the former Public Protector’s remedial action as stated in her “Rocking the Boat” report which exposed the abuse of power and victimisation of a whistle-blower, Ms Fikile Hlatshwayo-Rouget. Premier Willies Mchunu has done the right thing by displaying leadership and taking a stand in this matter and we commend him for this. It is this kind of leadership that will take our province forward. We urge the Premier to institute a thorough investigation into the dealings of the Treasury and root out corrupt elements once and for all.
We raised serious concerns about the abuse of public funds after the provincial government paid R25 million for the Durban North Sea Jazz Festival, an event that never took place and years later that money is still to be recovered. We raised this issue among many others in the Legislature and at a press conference in November last year but we were threatened with legal action that never materialised, At the press conference we presented a detailed report of just some of the damning dealings in Treasury and we called for the implementation of the Public Protector’s directives which included the reinstatement of Ms Hlatshwayo-Rouget. We were not taken seriously. MEC Scott has been exposed on how she tried to sweep alleged corruption involving her department under the carpet. Since taking office, MEC Scott has promised to run a clean ship and root out corruption and wasteful expenditure, but she has not lived up to her promise.
Corruption and denialism by those in control is permitting the illegal diversion of millions of rand away from service delivery to the poor and into hands of an elite cabal within the Treasury Department and their associates. The IFP will not succumb to threats of legal action when we are confident of the facts at hand. We commend the bravery of Ms Hlatshwayo-Rouget and call upon all other officials who have the best interest of the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal at heart to come forward with evidence of wrong-doing without fear of victimisation. The IFP will stand by you as we fight for the people we are called upon to serve with honesty and integrity.
Issued by:
Mr Blessed Gwala
IFP Leader in the KZN Legislature