Unruly group disrupts KwaDukuza deputy mayor election
KwaDukuza has been without a deputy mayor since the death of Thulani Ntuli in March this year.
A special council meeting to elect KwaDukuza’s deputy mayor was disrupted by a protesting group last Wednesday.
It was reported that the group started by spilling raw sewage outside the KwaDukuza Town Hall before making their way inside where the meeting was held.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) attributed the chaos to internal factions within the African National Congress (ANC), an assertion rebuffed by ANC chief whip, Humphrey Mbatha.
Mbatha said about 100 people entered the town hall and among them were individuals who identified themselves as local business people expressing frustration over perceived neglect of their complaints.
KwaDukuza has been without a deputy mayor since the death of Thulani Ntuli in March this year.
Ntuli (49), who also held the position of ANC regional treasurer, died after collapsing on Chief Albert Luthuli Street just outside the KwaDukuza municipal building.
Expressing his disappointment about the incident, KwaDukuza municipal manager Nhlanhla Mdakane praised the intervention of the police.
“The South African Police Services instructed the crowd to vacate the hall to allow the meeting to proceed. Gathering along the perimeters of the hall the protesters became unruly, which prevented the council from continuing with its business,” said Mdakane.
KwaDukuza DA caucus leader, Tammy Colley, said her party previously tabled a motion proposing the position of deputy mayor remain vacant and that the cost savings be used for the delivery of basic services to the people.
“While the position of deputy mayor remained vacant, residents did not see any difference or change in the delivery of services. The events that unfolded today were a virtual carbon copy of what happened when the position of mayor was to be filled after the passing of former mayor Ricardo Mthembu.
“Service delivery to the residents of KwaDukuza remains at the bottom of the list of priorities for the ANC-led municipality, which continues to allow factions within the party to dictate how the municipality is run,” said Colley.
ActionSA caucus leader Nel Sewraj said it was concerning that despite law enforcement presence, the protesters entered the hall threatening violence, with no consequences.
“We will write to opposition parties within the municipality and recommend we rally together to save our municipality against the clutches of the ANC, which has timeously displayed that they seek to fulfil their own needs over those of the residents of KwaDukuza.”
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