DA denies IFP coalition arrangement in Endumeni
Rogers said to tackle issues – such as the dire financial situation Endumeni municipality finds itself in – civic organisations such as residents’ associations, business groupings and others need to come together to agitate for change.
The DA is not in coalition with the IFP in Endumeni but rather has a service agreement with the party with the caveat that they will be in opposition.
So said DA provincial leader, Francois Rogers, while addressing a stakeholders meeting at the Golf Club on Monday evening.
“Should our councillors not be happy with issues in Endumeni we can relook at that agreement and tackle these issues. Unfortunately with just 2 (DA) councillor out of 13 makes it difficult to steer the ship around. If we had a working majority it would be a completely different issue,” he said.
“We have seen that where the DA has a majority positive change can be achieved such as in Umgeni.”
Asked about what the party was doing to fix the current situation in Endumeni, Cllr Naresh Gopie said the current Council had inherited ‘huge historical debt that had put massive strain on resources’.
“Coupled with the economic crisis and challenges with our own revenue collection, this is a problem,” he said.
FC Bester chairperson of the Endumeni Residents Association voiced concerns that the external audit committee was made up of outside people. “There are many problems here. We, the ERA, have laid a charge against the municipality following the shocking audit general’s report and we understand that the Hawks are investigating.”
Cllr Gopie agreed that more should be done to only use local people who pay rates to Endumeni.
Maliyakhe Shelembe, the DA’s head of the Umzinyathi constituency, said the DA had ‘engaged the IFP in Endumeni with many issues that they are not happy with but did not always get answers’.
“If we all come together with as many civic associations as possible we can make a difference. Getting involved and having engagements is what is needed as is open communication.”
Rogers said the May 29 election was more important than the historic 1994 election.
“Our country is on the brink of collapse. KZN has a deficit of R4bn and the education department has had to take a loan to pay salaries. We are at a crossroads. The ANC, IFP nor the MK party can save you – their track record speaks for itself. Only the DA can do that.”
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