The IFP has challenged the Municipal Demarcation Board to also respond to Matatiele residents, who expressed a desire to be re-incorporated into KwaZulu-Natal Province from where they were moved against their will, and this must be done before the 2016 local elections.
“The Demarcation Board is set to announce its findings on Malamulele this week, as the community is demanding its own municipality, claiming that the Thulamela Municipality, under which they fall, favours the more wealthy neighbouring town of Thohoyandou with regards to jobs and service delivery. Matatiele residents still need answers from government about their forced removal. Therefore answers must be provided to these people who were treated unfairly. The KwaZulu-Natal ANC has obeyed their master’s voice and shut their eyes and ears to the pleading of the people of Matatiele, and possibly damned them to a Khutsong fate, or worse,” said IFP National Chairperson, Mr Blessed Gwala.
“The majority of the people of Matatiele wanted to stay in KwaZulu-Natal and publicly rejected the demarcation legislation that consigned them to the Eastern Cape. The IFP has long argued that by ignoring the will of the Matatiele residents as expressed in the public hearings and submissions, the ANC has effectively turned its back on public participation in law-making, which is one of its trumpeted objectives,” continued Mr Gwala.
The IFP calls on the ANC-led government to respect the ruling by the Constitutional Court in 2006, where it ruled that the part of the 12th Amendment dealing with the transfer of Matatiele from KZN to Eastern Cape was invalid, due to insufficient consultation and flawed processes. In addition, government must listen to the residents of Malamulele and give them what they deserve.
Issued by:
Mr Blessed Gwala, IFP National Chairperson,078 290 5842
For Media Queries:
Mr Phendulani Biyase, IFP KZN Legislature Media Liaison Officer, 073 024 5675
