La Lucia couple accused of ‘Greasing the right palms’

CONTROVERSIAL La Lucia couple, Shauwn and Sbu Mpisane are once again in the spotlight. This time over a beach party that the couple plan on throwing on Friday, seven days before national elections on Wednesday, 7 May. The DA has threatened to go to Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela after it was announced that the Zikhulise Group, owned by Shauwn Mpisane is sponsoring an ANC Youth Beach Festival this Friday.

The poster advertising the event shows that some of the country’s top celebrities, a total of 58, that include DJ’s, artists and actors will feature at the party that will be held on Durban’s New Beach. In a press statement the DA’s eThekwini caucus leader, Zwakele Mncwango said: “In the previous financial year alone, the Mpisanes were paid out almost half-a-billion rands by the eThekwini Municipality. This despite a history of shoddy workmanship.”

He added that the Mpisanes were being favoured because they were “politically connected and channel money towards the ANC”.

According to the DA several emerging contractors in Durban have said that they are being sidelined as the Mpisanes have monopolised the low-cost housing sector in and around the city.

“I am therefore going to write to the office of the Public Protector calling on her to investigate all contracts given to the Mpisanes and the processes under which they were awarded. BEE is being abused to enrich a few politically connected individuals while honest contractors struggle to get work as they fail to grease the right palms,” he said.

City Spokesman, Thabo Mofokeng this morning called the DA’s allegations “unfounded”. “This is simply politicking on the part of the DA. They must provide proof of the shoddy workmanship. They have been paid for work done that has been approved by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC),” he said.

The tag line of the poster reads: “I’m young, smart & I vote ANC.”