The Inkatha Freedom Party is extremely concerned by the ANC’s abuse of legislation that allows for the number of Municipal Executive Committee members to be reduced.
“It is of grave concern to us that the abuse of legislation to reduce the number of executive committee members to ensure dominance of the ANC in certain municipalities is ongoing. We are aware that the legislation allows for executive committees to be reduced when there are financial constraints but that legislation should never be used to seek political dominance. This pattern of abuse has been evident after every local government election and we have noted that it is only the ANC that does it to remove a member of an opposition party. Most often in KwaZulu-Natal it is the IFP that falls victim to this abuse. In the past we have seen this happening at Umvoti and Mtubatuba where IFP members who should have been serving on the Exco were removed in order that the ANC will have majority control of the executive committee. Now again we see our councillors being removed from executive committee positions at KwaMaphumulo, Newcastle and Umfolozi”, said IFP National Chairman, Mr Blessed Gwala MPL.
“The number of councillors eligible to serve on executive committees is determined according to the number of votes each party gets. Therefore, by reducing the number of councillors for political expediency and not financial constraints only serves to undermine the will of the people. Voters have spoken through the ballot box for the IFP to have a certain number of seats in the Exco, but the ANC, seeking to dominate the Exco then abuses legislation to frustrate the opposition. We have noted that it never happens that the ANC reduces the Exco by removing one of its own councillors. It is always a councillor from an opposition party who is removed and most often it is an IFP councillor who falls victim to this abuse of power. By doing this the ANC is proving that it is not interested in service delivery but only interested in clinging on to power. We call on the IEC to look into this blatant abuse of the electorate process”, concluded Mr Gwala.
Issued By:
Mr Blessed Gwala
IFP National Chairman
078 290 5842
Media Queries:
Mr Phendulani Biyase
IFP Media Officer
073 024 5675
