DURBAN - DEPUTY mayor of Newcastle Municipality, Musa Thwala, says he will not soften his stance against corruption at the municipality regardless of the death threats made against him.
This comes after he survived an assassination attempt on Monday evening, where one of his bodyguards died.
Thwala, chairs the Technical Service Committee at the municipality which covers units such as water and sanitation and refuse collection. He said yesterday that he had recently embarked on an investigation into the activities of the unit and across fraudulent activities.
“An audit was conducted. It revealed plant equipment was not working, and water trucks were lying idle and we sought to correct that,” Thwala said.
The deputy mayor said the attempt on his life was linked to efforts by the new leadership to run a clean administration. Decisions taken in recent weeks since assuming office, which included discontinuing some contracts of service providers, had ruffled some feathers.
He said people had been billing the municipality for work not done. The new leadership had questioned this, and stopped the contracts. “I know that there is a price tag on my head. This attack was not random, but planned. That being said, I will soldier on because there is commitment from this council leadership to deal with corruption.”
Thwala added that while he was shaken by the incident, especially the death of one of his bodyguards, he had realised early on that his stance against corruption would earn him enemies.
Newcastle Municipality, under ANC control until last year’s elections, is now jointly governed by the IFP and Team Sugar Party SA (TSSA), led by Thwala. The party , founded in the build-up to last year’s local government elections, secured seven seats at the municipality.
Monday’s incident comes just weeks after Amajuba District Speaker Reginald Ndima was shot dead, sparking fears that Newcastle and surrounds were experiencing a resurgence of political killings.
A DA councillor from Amajuba District Municipality confirmed he had also received death threats that he suspected were linked to his work. Joseph Thusi is the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) chairperson, exercising oversight over council functions. “The situation is quite tense and the threats real. I have received a message saying I will be six feet underground. It makes one afraid, especially considering what happened to the speaker in January.”
Thusi said he had reported the matter to the local police, but he had been disappointed with the slow response.
“Police need to compile a report that shows an individual’s life is in danger and there is a need for protection. I am waiting for such a report. Until then I just have to live with the knowledge that one could be attacked at any moment.”
Police confirmed Monday’s shooting at Section 6 in Madadeni near the home of the deputy mayor. “It is alleged that at 6.30pm his security guards noticed a vehicle parked across the street near a shopping centre. It is alleged that its occupants attacked the security officials. Two of them were injured,” said police spokesperson Jay Naicker. “The motive for the attack is unknown. Newcastle police are investigating,” said Naicker, insisting the deputy mayor was not attacked. Attempts to get comment from Newcastle mayor Xolani Dube were unsuccessful.
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