IFP leader Buthelezi flays ruling party

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Published Jul 17, 2017

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Glencoe - IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi has hit back at the ANC in northern KwaZulu-Natal, accusing it of manufacturing allegations of corruption against an IFP mayor.

Buthelezi was speaking at a party rally in Glencoe, near Dundee, where he told supporters that millions of rand had been squandered in Umzinyathi district municipality in “dodgy contracts” and “fraudulent procurement

practices”.

The IFP recently took control of the district after a landslide victory in the May Nquthu by-elections, giving the party control of Umzinyathi district after five years of ANC rule.

“Let me tell you, our opponents are not happy. They don't want their corruption to be exposed.

“The ANC is licking its wounds in this district, because they tried everything to keep the IFP out of Umzinyathi, and they failed,” he said.

Buthelezi said Umzinyathi district mayor Petros Ngubane, who was inaugurated last month has identified millions of rand of irregular expenditure.

Millions spent

“Some R3 million was spent on water tanks, but there are still communities who have no access to water. R22m was spent on operations and maintenance, but it's not clear where all that money went.

“Our district mayor has called for a forensic investigation into the municipality's finances and skills, so that we can see what we are dealing with and how we can put things right,” said Buthelezi.

Last week, the ANC tabled a motion of no-confidence against eNdumeni mayor, Siboniso Mbatha, following allegations of corruption.

Buthelezi said Mbatha had been exonerated by a Municipal Public Accounts Committee report. “ANC councillors have tried to keep the committee's report from being tabled, by repeatedly walking out of council meetings.

“There is no evidence of any wrongdoing. The lies of our opponents have been exposed,” he said.

ANC provincial secretary Super Zuma said the ANC would not enter into a war of words with Buthelezi. Instead, Zuma said Buthelezi should refer allegations of corruption to law enforcement agencies for investigation.“What the ANC cannot afford to do is keep quiet when we see wrong being done by the IFP,” he said.

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