Municipal coalitions undertake to probe fraudulent tenders
Speculation of a witch-hunt to dismiss municipal officials appointed by the ANC/ NFP administrations were also quashed
ALL three major opposition parties in KZN have signed a ‘special’ coalition agreement, setting them up to govern eight hung municipalities in the province.
The deal between the IFP, DA and EFF was set in stone on Thursday afternoon in Mtubatuba, where the new council sat for the first time.
The agreement essentially wrested power away from the ANC and its ally, the African Independent Congress (AIC).
Both the IFP and ANC obtained 18 seats each in Mtuba, the DA getting two and the EFF and AIC one each – the coalition handing the municipality to the IFP.
The other councils affected by the agreement include Jozini, Endumeni, eDumbe and Nquthu, as well as the district councils of Zululand, uMkhanyakude and Umzinyathi. While some positions still need to be finalised, all KZN towns will have new mayors and councils inaugurated by the weekend.
National IFP Chairperson Blessed Gwala on Thursday thanked the leadership of the DA and the EFF ‘for the manner in which we were able to conduct the negotiations’.
‘The IFP’s agreement with the DA and the EFF will ensure that residents of KZN benefit from quality service delivery and also get rid of ANC corruption,’ Gwala said.
Speculation of a witch-hunt to dismiss municipal officials appointed by the ANC/ NFP administrations were also quashed.
‘We will look at all positions and we will not fire competent people. But at the same token, we want qualified people to occupy positions and we will not tolerate people who were politically deployed without necessary qualifications.’
Of great importance to taxpayers, Gwala confirmed that a review of all tenders issued by the previous administrations would be examined and those found to have been fraudulently awarded would be scrapped.
Read the full story in the ZO Monday edition.
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