ANC member’s comment angers Durban North councillor

DURBAN North councillor Dean Macpherson has requested the city manager to launch a disciplinary inquiry into comments made by the chairman of uMhlanga ward 35 branch of the ANC and the head of eThekwini Municipality’s Parks, Recreation and Culture, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, in an article on Northglen News website. This follows a picnic rally held at Whynotte Park on the corner of Umhlanga Rocks Drive and Northway that caused a disturbance for Durban North residents.

Residents, according to Macpherson were subjected to deafening music, hooting cars and disorderly behaviour until late on Monday evening. Macpherson added that there was also public drinking at the rally. However, Ngcobo denied these claims saying it was a family picnic and that there was no loud music or alcohol consumed.

“Mr Ngcobo’s actions and comments have brought the municipality into disrepute by organising an illegal gathering in a park that he is head of, as well as his suspected breach of the Structures Act. It would also appear that Mr. Ngcobo who organised the event could be in breach of the Gatherings Act of 1993 as no permission was sought from either the municipality or SAPS.

“I have obtained evidence which proves his claims are false. I have in my possession pictures of the vast amount of rubbish left in the wake of the picnic rally including pictures of alcohol containers. Clearly this is at odds with Mr Ngcobo’s claims that no alcohol was consumed,” he said.

Another Durban North resident from Eastview Road, also refuted the head of the parks department claims saying he could hear the music from his home on Eastview Road almost a kilometre away from the event.

“Mr Ngcobo is either a blatant liar or has a memory, hearing and eye sight problem. I am disgusted at his response and his lies, this from a so called head of department. The municipality should take disciplinary action against him as he clearly lacks integrity.

“The park was filthy with litter clearly from the party that took place. The notion that they were having a picnic is nothing less than a joke as I could often hear the electioneering being punted over the PA system.

“To be quite frank I am not bothered about who was doing what in the park but as ratepayers of this municipality we have been disrespected by this blatant disregard of the laws and policies and for Mr Ngcobo to lie in response to the concerns raised is nothing less than despicable,” he said.

Ngcobo though remained firm in his view that no laws were broken. He has in turn sent Northglen News pictures of the picnic. He was at pains to point out a picture of a white family from the area seen buying ANC paraphernalia.

“The people at the picnic are mainly professional and live in the area. The family who came to the park for a walk, ended up having good and friendly exchanges with some ANC members. This family would not have come to the park if they felt threatened.

“I must also emphasize that our members are a multiracial lot and the park was reflective of the non racial society we are building,” he said.