“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.
