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By Duncan Guy 
2h ago
Durban – The IFP will ask the high court to overturn the swearing in of former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede as a member of the provincial legislature.
Describing the official provincial opposition attack on corruption, leader Velenkosini Hlabisa said yesterday that the IFP had also reported a series of dubious deals involving provincial money to the Special Investigation Unit and the Competition Commission.
Referring to Gumede, he said it was “irresponsible and unfortunate that someone did nothing and earn more than 1 million rand (a year)” while so many people were unemployed.
Hlabisa said the party had approached the president of the legislature, who referred the IFP to the provincial leadership of the ruling party.
“The ANC leadership did not even acknowledge receipt of the letter. Now we go to court. “
Hlabisa asked why the ANC had removed the mayor, who faces corruption charges involving more than 400 million rand, if there was nothing wrong.
He said it was typical for the ruling party to relocate people accused of wrongdoing.
“If we allow this, it will continue unabated.”
The party is expected to issue a statement on its progress next week.
Mzomuhle Dube, a spokesman for Gumede supporters, said he was “not in our space to comment.”
However, he suggested that it was “illogical” to suggest that she had not been doing her job.
ANC provincial communications chief Lennox Mabaso said: “The provincial government wishes to warn against plagiarism of reports already submitted by the prime minister and the provincial government to the public.”
He said that the KwaZulu-Natal government appealed that, at the very least, copyright law that requires acknowledgment of sources must be observed.
“The provincial government has released reports in various press conferences, which are now cut and pasted as new information to mislead the media.”
He said the provincial government was in favor of fighting corruption.
“The provincial government welcomes anyone committed to promoting clean governance as an ally.
“The creation of an ethical and incorruptible government, including in the municipalities, is a key priority in the KZN government.
“Corruption is a capital sin that must be fought and conquered.”
He said South Africans witnessed the action the government had taken when the irregularity was found.
“The KZN government will act without fear, favor or prejudice on any accusation.”
Hlabisa said that “the rot of corruption lies deep within KZN,” and resorted to supposedly dubious deals involving personal protective equipment, disinfection deals, and alleged theft of food packages during the Covid-19 shutdown.
He also questioned what happened to the provincial government money allocated to Inkosi Vela “Imisebe Yelanga” Shembe’s funeral in 2018, an alleged dubious disciplinary measure after a sanitary napkin scandal and a sports project in Umzimkulu.
On the Covid-19 cases, he said IFP investigations found that two family-owned companies in Verulam earned more than R136.5 million from the KZN provincial government in PPE purchases.
At Shembe’s funeral, to which the KZN government assigned R4m, Hlabisa said: “As usual, the immoral executioners of the government helped themselves with some of this money.
“We are waiting for answers and for action to be taken on those guilty of this looting.”
The Independent on Saturday
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