ANC rally held in Durban North raises ire
Mudslinging between the DA and the ANC has heated up in the run up to next week's national elections.
“THE problem with Mr Macpherson is when there are more than two black people at a public place, they are considered a mob.” That’s the words of the chairman of uMhlanga ward 35 branch of the ANC, Thembinkosi Ngcobo. He was responding to claims made by the DA’s Durban North councillor, Dean Macpherson, who today said that a picnic rally held at Whynotte Park on the corner of Umhlanga Rocks Drive and Northway caused a disturbance for Durban North residents.
Residents, according to Macpherson were subjected to deafening music, hooting cars and disorderly behaviour until late yesterday evening. Macpherson added that there was also public drinking at the rally.
What’s more says Macpherson litter was strewn across the park once the party had ended. Ngcobo is the head of eThekwini Municipality’s Parks, Recreation and Culture.
“This is insensitive to residents surrounding the park and double standards on behalf of Ngcobo. For years I have been advocating for better services and an upgrade to the park however these have been ignored. When the ANC comes to town, the Parks Department under Mr Ngcobo pulls out all the stops,” Macpherson said.
But Ngcobo has rubbished the claims. “This was a family picnic, I’m not aware of any alcohol being consumed at the park. The music was at an audible level, there were several children at the picnic so the music was not excessively loud. I was at the park till the end and to my knowledge there was no litter strewn all over the park.
“Parks are public facilities and we weren’t breaking any laws. These are what we term ‘blue lies’. He wasn’t there. We had law abiding citizens at the event and these accusations are unfounded,” Ngcobo said.
Mr Ngcobo is either a blatant liar or has a memory, hearing and eye sight problem.
As a resident in the area 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 music could be heard from my house in Eastview Road 1.5km away from the park. On Tuesday morning at 07h15 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.