The IFP started an aggressive election campaign with veteran leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and hosted a meeting for around 50 business people in Glencoe.
Endumeni was under fire for lack of service delivery by aspirant IFP ward candidate, Kallie Carelse, a previous municipal official.
In a slide-show presentation, Mr Carelse, lashed out at the ‘neglect in Wasbank – which is a ghost town – and the townships in Dundee and Glencoe’.
Potholed roads, illegal dumping and poor sports facilities were all under the spotlight.
Mr Carelse said the IFP also objected to the decision to purchase a new mayoral car costing around R800 000.
“We are also concerned that R80 000 will be spent on firearms and ammunition while R74 000 was spent on examining the computer of suspended communications manager, Percy Mabilisa, whose personal assistant, Khetho Zungu, is also currently suspended.”
Mr Carelse also said that still-suspended municipal manager, Thabani Biyela, is earning over R80 000 a month ‘while sitting at home as the case drags on. He said the council does not have any evidence against him. “Managers are suspended left, right and centre and are winning cases, but the council is refusing to give them back their jobs.”
He also claimed that minutes of a previous Council meeting were signed by at least one Councillor who ‘was not even at the meeting’.
“This is fraud.” He alleged that ‘about R30 million, that was supposed to be used to upgrade Willson, Ann, and Beaconsfield Streets, had disappeared.’ He said ‘the alliance of ANC and DA has led the council to hire incompetent people who are friends and family.’
In his speech, Dr Buthelezi said ‘many white South Africans in KZN had voted for the IFP in 1994 as this party is the better option’.
What have I done to lose your vote?” Prince Mangosuthu asked.
Bart Maltman, former Endumeni Technical Manager, who was also there, criticised the council for not having competent managers to run the council.
