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By Chanelle Lutchman 
1 hour ago
Durban – South African Indians, colored and white will not be able to bid on vehicles in an auction that eThekwini will hold in March next year. On sale will be the vehicles seized by the city.
City bosses believe that there is nothing wrong with excluding minority communities. They say they are not breaking any of their internal rules and regulations.
Krish Kumar, CFO of eThekwini, said: “We (the city) made it clear to exco. The director of SCM (supply chain management) made it very clear that we will clearly follow the actual principles outlined in the PFA and the BEE code.
“So whoever gets classified, including women and the underprivileged, we will make sure they are part of the auction.”
He said cartels have sprung up in the past and used their resources to prevent people from participating.
Kumar said the city would follow its SCM and BEE policies for the auction in accordance with the law.
Mdu Nkosi, a member of the IFP and a board member of eThekwini, said he agreed with the city’s decision. He said people with “bigger muscles” should be monitored to make sure they don’t buy everything.
“They would have to be limited and only a certain percentage of the items should be sold to them.”
However, the Democratic Alliance, the main opposition party in the city, disagreed. He has written to the South African Human Rights Commission asking that the exclusion of minority communities in the auction be investigated.
Thabani Mthethwa, the head of the DA eThekwini committee, said: “Last year, there was a similar auction that took place and it was embarrassing for everyone because only certain criteria of people were allowed to participate.”
“Knowing what happened last year, I raised the issue of these race-based auctions and asked that we not repeat last year’s disaster again. We (the district attorney) pleaded with the council to ensure that the public car auction it would be open to all races and that everyone would have the same opportunities to participate.
“However, the ANC gladly rejected this specific commitment and chose to proceed with the auction on the basis that it complied with the Black Economic Empowerment and Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA). Unfortunately, our request for equality of opportunities for all was rejected by the majority of the ANC ”.
Mthethwa said he was disappointed.
“All residents are the same at eThekwini. All residents pay the same taxes and fees, so when there is a chance to win, why shouldn’t all residents be considered? We don’t want this from certain racial groups or certain people.
“We cannot send a message that the city only cares about one race. Both Indians and those of color are residents of this city and were previously disadvantaged, and should not be excluded from opportunities.”
“We strongly believe that imposing more racial measures is regressive and will only create more divisions in our society. I have written to the commission and they have since responded saying they will investigate the matter. “
Advocate Ashin Singh, coordinator of the South African Minority Equal Rights Movement (Samrem), said that the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) classifies Indians and of color as blacks.
“It was designed to promote local industrial development, socioeconomic transformation, and the empowerment of small businesses, cooperatives, and rural and municipal businesses. He did not mean to blatantly exclude people on the basis of race. However, no legislation, including the Constitution, excludes people on the basis of race. “
He said that in terms of the Constitution, the procurement process must be fair, equitable, transparent, economical and profitable. “Excluding people on the basis of race is unconstitutional. This constitutes racist behavior. “
Singh said that Samrem will discuss the matter at their next meeting.
Morne Mostert, head of local government affairs at AfriForum, said: “The district attorney is right that race should not be part of the criteria and ANC policy clearly focuses on a certain race.
“One would expect that with the municipalities being the lowest form of local government and being the closest to the ground, it would focus on providing services to all residents. What has happened here is that the municipality has been used by the parties, especially the ANC, as tools for politicians to gain an advantage and achieve their goals. It is a tragic misuse of power. “
Bheki Ntuli, ANC’s eThekwini Regional Secretary, was unable to comment at time of publication.
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