Legislator lashes out

KZN Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker, Dr Meshack Radebe has condemned those municipal councillors who provide government services along the lines of party political affiliation.

Addressing hundreds gathered at Mabhensa Community Hall in Ntambanana on Wednesday, Radebe unequivocally stated: ‘No one is bigger than our employers – the masses on the ground – to refuse to provide services to the needy just because they are not members of their political party,’ he warned.

Radebe and the other members of the Legislature were in the area to hand out wheelchairs to the disabled and food parcels to destitute community members.

‘We are all governed by the same government, therefore we deserve to be treated equally. Nobody is supposed to be left out from government provisions, just because they belong to a different political party,’ he said.

Radebe further decried the lack of provision and services, including the building of government housing for the Mabhensa community members, poor state of roads and shortage of schools and clinics.

White elephant

He honed in on the shambles around the Department of Social Development and Department of Home Affairs centre which was built at Upper Nseleni more than five years ago, but which still has not opened its doors.With necessary services thus denied to local people, they are forced to travel long distances to Empangeni and Melmoth at great cost to process vital documents.

‘I’m going to demand the opening of these offices, so people can receive services closer to where they live,’ he stressed.

He further criticised municipalities for cadre deployment, when hiring employees.

‘Nepotism is the reason we have such poor service delivery. It is the root cause of all the service delivery protests mushrooming all over the country,’ Radebe said.

‘We further condemn the burning of property and industries during these service delivery protests.’