THE ANC Musa Dladla region has categorically dismissed allegations of political interference by its chairperson Thulani Mashaba in the City of uMhlathuze’s affairs.
At a special media briefing in Empangeni on Wednesday, the party said recent reports in the media suggesting that its leaders ‘bully mayors and officials’ were seen as an ‘attempt to drag the name of their regional chairperson through the mud’.
Last week, the Zululand Observer published excerpts of a legal response by City Deputy Municipal Manager: Infrastructure and Technical Services, Sifiso Mdakane, who had been placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of misconduct.
However, the response through attorneys Nkosi Shoba Incorporated, revealed shocking claims of direct political manipulation of municipal administrative affairs.
This included, among others, alleged collusion between Mashaba and senior City management to remove staff as well as political coaxing to hire preferred contractors who are huge funders of the ANC.
‘We don’t interfere in the administration of the municipality, but the Councillors are our ‘deployees’,’ said ANC regional secretary Siboniso Xulu.
‘We talk to them from time to time, but do not interfere with employment processes. We don’t hire and fire people. It is the Councillors who do that.
‘We do not bully mayors and officials. Nothing has been raised within the ANC regarding these allegations. We will not interfere in the processes. Let the municipality handle it. If there are allegations that money has been deposited to the ANC, we need proof,’ added Xulu.
ANC Youth League regional secretary, Philani Mthethwa, said while the party received donations from businesses, no promises of benefit were made in any way.
‘Tender processes are governed by supply chain management systems. No individual dictates. Even if the President said ‘give this tender to a particular person’, it cannot happen. There are no untouchables in the ANC,’ added Mthethwa.
Letter
The party also used the media briefing to distance itself from a scathing letter attacking the regional leadership which has been circulating on social media platforms this week.
‘This is a political attack on the head of the region and we view this as one of the tactics to derail us from the 2014 election campaign.
‘We will not lose our focus. There is no division within the ANC. We will not respond to something that comes from faceless people,’ said Xulu.
