DURBAN - KWAZULU-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sipho Hlomuka is set to visit the Nquthu Municipality this week to establish the reasons behind the “chaos” in the council.
This comes after a council meeting was disrupted when armed private security guards entered the Nquthu council chamber last Thursday.
In videos of the incident a group of men can be seen entering the chamber and removing two council members. Members can be heard raising safety concerns in the IFP-run municipality.
“Why are we being attacked? Kill us if you want to do so. Speaker, why are you allowing such to happen,” said one of the ANC members.
The ANC in KZN said it was disgusted by what had occurred.
Nhlakanipho Ntombela, the ANC KZN spokesperson, said they wanted to assure the IFP that they were not intimidated by their security.
However, the IFP denied the allegations and said they were malicious.
“The ANC’s warped version of events clearly makes them the victims in the matter, when in fact they were the perpetrators, provoking and disturbing the council,” said Thami Ntuli, the IFP’s provincial chairperson.
He accused the ANC councillors of heckling IFP councillors, and destroying property. He said a case of malicious damage to property had been opened with the police.
“The Nquthu council will also take further action by ensuring that a proper investigation is conducted,” he said.
THE MERCURY