The co-governance agreement in Endumeni between the DA. EFF and IFP appears to be reaching a breaking point.
The DA has threatened to break ranks unless a forensic investigation is done to probe allegations of corruption involving Mayor Richard Mbatha.
Zwakhele Mncwango said in a statement to the Courier that ‘recent developments in Endumeni have left the DA with no choice but to propose to abstain from voting on the motion of no confidence on the Mayor. The DA still maintains that it cannot compromise on the principles of clean governance just to save the co-governance agreement.’
The ANC has tabled several motions but these have not been heard since the last two ordinary Council meetings were abandoned.
“We want to state that when the allegations of corruption surfaced we communicated with the IFP and sent them all the evidence that we have received of the alleged corruption by the Mayor. We have been waiting for a response from May on this issue,” Mr Mncwango said.
However, the IFP’s provincial spokesman, Blessed Gwala, has dismissed the allegations as lies and accused a disgruntled former IFP member of fuelling the lies with the ANC.
“The IFP is happy that the Mayor was vindicated after an investigation into the alleged corruption. The DA has no reason to abstain from voting as the Mayor has been cleared.”
However, the DA claims that the investigation by the Municipal Public Accounts Committee, MPAC, was never tabled.
“It is not a case of who is guilty or not guilty. The report must be tabled and the findings tested. This is about an individual, not the IFP.”