DEAR Editor,-
The DA has come into possession of a letter signed by NB Thabatha, Ray Nkonyeni Municipality HOD of Corporate Services, inviting Marburg residents to collect their housing title deeds.
The date, venue and time was the same as ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa’s rally at the school.
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Residents were even advised that municipal transport would be provided to the event.
Most shocking is that during and after the event, no title deeds were handed over to any residents and they left empty-handed.
Many of these residents have been waiting for their title deeds since 1994.
This abuse of municipal resources for party campaigning shows that the failing ANC doesn’t care about the community, it only cares about itself.
The ANC recognises its dwindling support in Marburg and had to resort to empty promises to fill a rally hall.
The Democratic Alliance strongly condemns the misuse of the people’s money for ANC campaigning purposes.
Residents of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality suffer from high unemployment and poverty levels, lack of housing and basic service delivery.
Yet this Ramaphosa-led ANC is willing to waste their money on rallies.
This is a blatant indication that Ramaphosa’s ANC is no different to Zuma’s ANC. The bus drivers have changed but it is still the same broken and corrupt bus. This is also an indication that in KZN Ramaphosa can only get the public to attend his events by lying about service delivery which his ANC has failed to deliver.
The DA will be raising this matter within council and will call for accountability and for heads to roll.
Primarily we want answers as to why the HOD of Corporate Services got the municipality involved in what was clearly a political event.
If necessary, we will escalate this matter to the public protector to investigate this misuse of the people’s money.
DR RISHIGEN VIRANNA, MPL
Democratic Alliance
RNM responds to DA claim
DEAR Editor,-
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality had thought President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit and the meeting were government activities and therefore planned that the title deeds be handed over at the meeting in Marburg Secondary School’s hall last Monday (January 7).
However, upon learning that the president’s visit and the meeting were political party activities, the municipality then changed the venue to Ray Nkonyeni Municipality Council Chambers and yes indeed, title deeds were handed over at the chambers. It was not done in the meeting held at Marburg Secondary because it was more of a political meeting.
ALSO READ : Gamalakhe families receive title deeds to their homes
What is also important is that these were only handed over by Ravi Pillay, the KZN MEC for Human Settlement and Public Works, and RNM Mayor Cllr Nomusa Mqwebu – only municipal branding was displayed during the handover.
Beneficiaries can attest to the above and that they were moved from Marburg Secondary to RNM Council Chambers to receive their title deeds.
They can also attest that this official handover of title deeds was purely a government activity
It is therefore incorrect that no title deeds were handed over and to say President Cyril Ramaphosa used false title deed promises to deceive residents into attending his rally or meeting is unfortunate, ill-fated and inappropriate.
SIMON M APRIL
Senior Manager: Mayoralty and Communications
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
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ANC slams DA’s misinformation campaign
The African National Congress Lower South Coast has noted with concern the desperate attempt by the Democratic Alliance to mislead the public on the recent successful visit to the region by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The statement by Rishigen Viranna of the DA alleging that Ray Nkonyeni Municipality used the handover of title deeds as a way to fill up the hall at Marburg Secondary School is devoid of truth, factually baseless and highlights their genuine fears that President Ramaphosa and the ANC is now gaining the support and confidence of people across all communities.
The facts are simple and can be verified. The ANC invited community members to an ANC campaign led by President Ramaphosa through the social media, printed pamphlets, and personal invites. None of these invites makes any mention of title deeds handovers. We are indeed humbled by the overwhelming reception, and support received from communities of Marburg, Merlewood and Port Shepstone. The school hall was filled to capacity with approximately 900 people filling the hall and corridors on a busy Monday which also happened to be the first day back at work. It is precisely this enthusiasm and interest in the ANC by ordinary people that has unsettled Viranna and the DA to the point where they resort to making a malicious, defamatory and factually unsubstantiated statements regarding the ANC.
We are aware that the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality did in fact hand out title deeds as part of its continued program of service delivery. Title deeds were handed to 18 beneficiaries at the Ray Nkonyeni Municipal Chambers by MEC Ravi Pillay and Mayor CN Mqwebu and NOT at the ANC event as is being falsely peddled by the embattled Democratic Alliance . We also note that Ray Nkonyeni Municipality has already handed out 94 percent of all title deeds that were part of those that needed to be handed over from the old stock of housing units. Only 45 title deeds still need to be handed over, due to problems and delays caused by beneficiaries themselves.
The ANC Lower South Coast region wishes to thank the public for their warm and cordial reception afforded to President Ramaphosa and the ANC during his visit. We remain committed to working with all communities to help grow South Africa together.
ANC Lower South Coast
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