Durban — The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal said it was contemplating the suspension of its embattled Abaqulusi Local Municipality speaker Michael Khumalo following his controversial utterances where he promised to employ a deceased councillor’s child.
Khumalo went to the extent of saying if there was no vacant post, an ANC-aligned municipal worker would have to be fired to make way for the employment of a deceased councillor’s child.
In a statement issued on Wednesday night, the IFP said it had instituted a process that might result in the possible precautionary suspension of Khumalo, pending the finalisation of an internal enquiry.
“As the leadership of the IFP, we share the concerns that have been raised, and we view these allegations in a very serious light,” said IFP provincial chairperson Thami Ntuli in a statement.
He said the party would report back to the public once the internal enquiry has been completed and will not hesitate to take decisive action if deemed necessary.
“The IFP will continue to work tirelessly to rebuild municipalities that have been run into the ground through mismanagement and unethical leadership. In order to honour this pledge, we will leave no stone unturned to root out corruption and nepotism, wherever it may manifest.”
Khumalo also issued a statement apologising for his action. He said he was engulfed by the grief and spoke in the heat of the moment. He added that he was acutely aware that the recruitment of staff is an administrative function which does not involve councillors.
“I had jokingly shared that statement with the municipal manager, who laughed, knowing that I am a seasoned politician who understands the recruitment process. I unreservedly apologise for any confusion caused, and I would like to reaffirm the rights and protection of workers at Abaqulusi Municipality,” read the statement.
The apology and interventions by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala prompted the ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo to withdraw from opening a case against the speaker.
Late on Wednesday, Mtolo announced that he would go to Vryheid and lay charges of corruption against the speaker. Also on Wednesday, the MEC weighed in on the calling for probing of the speaker’s utterances.
Khumalo, who is also IFP Zululand regional chairperson, was addressing mourners at the funeral of the party councillor, Phaphama Mbatha, at the weekend.
In a 30-second video, Khumalo is heard telling mourners in a marquee that he had instructed the municipal manager that Mbatha’s family must bring one of the dead councillor’s children to be given work at the municipality. If there was no vacancy, the manager would have to fire an ANC-aligned worker to make way for the child of the councillor who had died.
This prompted calls for action against the Speaker, with all parties condemning his action. The ANC said the only word to describe Khumalo’s utterances was disgusting. In a statement issued by the ANC on Wednesday, it said it was not surprising that the people of the province have described Khumalo as “a cold-hearted and ruthless person for taking advantage of a grieving family following the loss of their father, uncle and husband who died in a mysterious car accident weeks ago.”
The party added that it was shocking that within the ranks of political parties and IFP in particular, “there are insensitive populists who are moving around using funerals to grandstand.”
“The abuse of power by IFP’s office bearers in that municipality has resulted in the frustration of all political parties. As the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, we support a decision of the ANC councillors and all political parties to pass a vote of no confidence in the Office Bearers,” said ANC.
Khumalo’s utterances also angered the IFP coalition partners, the EFF and the DA, who also called for action against him. EFF Zululand chairperson Thulani Ndlovu, who is also a deputy mayor in a coalition government with the IFP in the Zululand District Municipality, said his party was appalled by the reckless utterances of the speaker and called on him to voluntarily stepped down or the EFF would be forced to remove him.
The DA also weighed in on the matter and distanced itself from the coalition partner’s utterances. The party said it was also disturbed that Khumalo went on to say its councillor, Swelakhe Shelembe, would support what he said. The DA said this was not true and distanced itself from Khumalo’s utterances.
The IFP’s blunder came at a time when its power was hanging by thread following growing dissatisfaction not only from the opposition but also from coalition partners.
Khumalo’s utterances have given the opposition more ammunition as the Ethics Committee was expected to present a report about the mayor’s corruption today (Thursday) in a special council meeting. The report is said to contain damning findings about the mayor's alleged abuse of power by spending close to R900 000 in just two months on petrol and car hire.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the Vryheid CBD is expected to come to a grinding halt as scores of residents plan to march through the town to the municipal offices. The march is being organised by ANC youth league local leader Lindokuhle Xulu under the banner of the community leadership.
Xulu said they were demanding action against both mayor Mncendisi Maphisa and the speaker.
Daily News