ACDP criticises IFP and DA in AbaQulusi

Lolo Madonsela

The ACDP (African Christian Democratic Party) has questioned a move by the DA in AbaQulusi to cut ties of co-governance with the IFP, stating it was too late for such a move and would contribute to ‘bringing down the municipality’.
“Before the DA changes its mind about voting with the IFP, it should look back and ask itself if the change of heart is because it is tired or it regrets the decisions it took together with the IFP, in bringing down the municipality which can deliver services to the people at the moment. Their co-governance should not change now because we are heading towards 2021 local government elections. They must stand for the corruption they were voting for, which has left the community of AbaQulusi without service delivery,” said the ACDP’s Sibusiso Thango.
The party further demanded answers from the IFP-led AbaQulusi Municipality, regarding allegations that the municipality refused assistance from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).
“They must explain their decision… where the municipality was due to receive water tankers to assist in communities where there were no plans for water services. Also, CoGTA gave the municipality money to build a wall around Mtiki Dam, which was above R20-million, so before they end their marriage, they must explain what happened to that money.”
Thango added the DA had voted with the IFP on building crèches, which he said were sitting fallow due to there reportedly being no owners.

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“The question is how can they build those crèches, when there was no one who wrote to the municipality and requested those structures? The municipality claims it does not have money, yet they are able to build infrastructure just for the fun of it.”
Provincial leader of the DA in KwaZulu-Natal, Zwakele Mncwango admitted there was no longer a system of co-governance between DA and IFP.
“People must learn to separate issues. In 2016, the DA and IFP made a commitment of working together and the agreement was clear that as the DA, we were not going to blindly support everything. On the appointment of Municipal Manager [Bonga Ntanzi], there was nothing proven about those allegations and he was subjected to any legal process which would prove those allegations. Therefore, it would be unfair to not appoint someone based on allegations which have not been proven. As a party, we believe in the Constitution and part of our values as DA is fairness.”
Responding to the allegations, Deputy Chairperson of the IFP in the Zululand District, Mpiyakhe Hlatshwayo said the ACDP spoke like a political party which ‘did not understand how Government and the municipality were run, nor the Constitution of the country’.
“This country is run based on the constitutional right, which says one is innocent until proven otherwise. Therefore, when Ntanzi was hired there were no allegations against him, as he is still innocent. Corruption is proven after investigations have been done and the proof concludes a person is corrupt; only then can we say a person is corrupt. In essence, the IFP and the DA were well within their right to hire Ntanzi, based on his accolades serving in Government,” said Hlatshwayo.
He confirmed the crèches that ACDP was referring to had been given to the community.
“A few months ago, we officially handed over one crèche to the community of Ward 16, and the other will be handed over once we are satisfied it is complete and safe for the children.”
Hlatshwayo said this proved services were being delivered to the community and called it ‘worrying that the ACDP is telling lies, of which is against Christianity they claim to believe in’.
“The ACDP shows that it lacks substance claiming AbaQulusi Municipality is corrupt, based on the song sung by other opposition parties without tangible proof. This shows the ACDP will go to any extent to win over DA supporters, so it can take over from the DA and work with us in their place.”
Hlatshwayo indicated the so-called marriage between the IFP and DA was not falling apart.
“We are still in good working partnership and that has brought stability in the municipality. The Auditor General said the finances were in good standing in the municipality and clarified that the financial problems there, were due to mismanagement from the previous administrations.”
Mncwango further clarified the decision to end co-governance between the IFP and DA, stating it stemmed from the IFP’s choice to cease working with the DA in Gauteng. He said this decision would be respected and the IFP would continue to function as an opposition, while supporting the community through its work.
“The IFP cannot have two marriages; there is no polygamy in politics – you cannot marry the ANC and the DA. We will continue being opposition, not just in AbaQulusi, but in other municipalities where we were co-governing,” concluded Mncwango.

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