STEENBOK – Distressed community members who were victims of the recent hail storm are furious over allegations that the local councillor is providing disaster-relief packages to ANC members only.
The ANC denied these accusations and blamed DA members for spreading them.
“The councillor is a former member of the DA and now they are trying to tarnish his name because they thought they would win the ward during the elections,” said Mpumalanga ANC spokesperson,
Mr Thulare Madileng.
Ward 8 councillor, Mr Boy-Boy Ntiwane, was confronted by angry residents on Wednesday during a community meeting at the tribal offices.
Many people lost their homes or had their homes badly damaged during a hail storm that hit the area on September 30. The following day volunteers dispersed to the area and apparently told residents that they were given instructions by Ntiwane not to record houses of people affiliated to opposition parties.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, told Mpumalanga News that about 40 houses were deprived of assistance because they were not members of the ruling party.
“We thought government was for everyone and not only for a certain group of people. We want answers, otherwise we cannot allow a community leader who is biased to rule,” said a community member who was a DA party agent during the local government elections.
Provincial leader of the DA, Mr James Masango, said it is an open secret that the ANC discriminates against people based on their political affiliation.
“The ANC has been doing this for a very long time and unfortunately this time around they were confronted by resistance from community members. They are now trying to put the blame on us. We congratulate the current councillor on his election, whether he is from the DA or not,” said Masango.
Also read : Extent of the damage caused by hail storm is vast
Madileng advised community members to forward their complaints to the Department of Social Development, which is responsible for providing disaster-relief packages.
