ANC warns against the weaponisation of governance in KwaZulu-Natal
The summit focused on the state of local government. Party leader Mike Mabuyakhulu stated during a media briefing on Tuesday, 'The delegates noted that there appears to be a very focused campaign to selectively target ANC-led municipalities when addressing allegations of maladministration or challenges in leadership, to the exclusion of municipalities led by ANC political competitors.'
The ANC emphasised that while accountability is essential, the application of the law must be consistent across all municipalities.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has raised concerns over the perceived targeting of its municipalities by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) . The issue was highlighted during the alliance summit meeting held this past weekend.
Mabuyakhulu expressed that the posture of the KwaZulu-Natal Cogta is perceived as overtly partisan, with its executive authority leading the charge. He reaffirmed the party's commitment to clean governance at the local government level, stating that those found acting in contravention of the law should be dealt with decisively, irrespective of political affiliations.
'The summit further resolved that this selective and partisan approach in overseeing municipalities must be addressed as a matter of urgency,' he added.
Mabuyakhulu acknowledged that the MEC of Cogta and the department have a legal responsibility entrusted to them by law. He urged them to execute their authority without fear or favour, but also stressed the need for consistency in the application of the law.
'Our concern is not about the application of the law; it is about the inconsistency in its application. We insist that no ANC-led municipalities should be deliberately targeted, as this undermines the consistent application of the law. We have raised this issue and will continue to do so in the GPU (Government of Provincial Unity),' he concluded.
KZN Cogta was contacted but had not responded by the time of publication.
THE MERCURY
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
Kremlin says Trump-Putin meeting agreed for 'coming days'
WASHINGTON - The Kremlin said on Thursday that a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Ukraine was set for the "coming days" as US-led efforts to broker peace rumble on. The Russian president named the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a potential location for the summit with Trump, but essentially ruled out a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Trump-Putin summit would be the first between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021. It comes as the Republican seeks an end to Russia's military assault on Ukraine. Three rounds of direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv have failed to yield any progress towards a ceasefire. The two sides appear as far apart as ever in the conditions they have set for an end to the more than three-year-long conflict. Trump said on Wednesday that he was likely to meet Putin face-to-face "very soon". They last sat together in 2019 at a G20 summit meeting in Japan during Trump's first term as US president, but have spoken by telephone several times since the former reality TV star returned to the White House earlier this year. "Both sides showed interest" in the Russia-US leaders meeting, Putin told reporters on Thursday. "We have many friends who are willing to help us organise such events. One of our friends is the president of the United Arab Emirates," he said, standing next to UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Earlier on Thursday, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said that the plan to hold a bilateral summit was "at the suggestion of the American side". "Next week has been set as a target date," said Ushakov, adding that both sides have already agreed the venue "in principle", without mentioning it. - Putin-Zelensky meeting? - Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Russia launched its military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022. Russian bombardments have forced millions of people to flee their homes and have destroyed swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine. Putin has resisted multiple calls from the United States, Europe and Kyiv for a ceasefire. At talks in Istanbul, Russian negotiators outlined hardline territorial demands if Ukraine wants Russia to halt its advance -- calling for Kyiv to withdraw from some territory it still controls and to renounce Western military support. Reports of the upcoming summit came after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow. Witkoff proposed a trilateral meeting with Zelensky, but Putin appeared to rule out direct talks with the Ukrainian leader. "I have nothing against it in general, it is possible, but certain conditions must be created for this," he told reporters, adding: "Unfortunately, we are still far from creating such conditions." Putin said in June that he was ready to meet Zelensky, but only during a "final phase" of negotiations on ending the conflict. Zelensky earlier on Thursday had refreshed his call for a meeting with Putin -- which he says is the only way to make progress towards peace. "It is necessary to determine the timing for such a format and the range of issues to be addressed," he wrote on social media. The Ukrainian leader later spoke with his European allies, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as he called for the continent to be included in any potential peace talks. "The war is happening in Europe, and Ukraine is an integral part of Europe -- we are already in negotiations on EU accession. Therefore, Europe must be a participant in the relevant processes," Zelensky said on social media after the call with Merz. He also said that he would hold several other conversations throughout the course of the day, including with Italian officials. "Today, security advisors will hold an online meeting to align our joint views -- Ukraine and the whole of Europe, the United States," Zelensky said. "Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same brave approach from the Russian side. It is time we ended the war," he added.
eNCA
3 hours ago
- eNCA
Racist Podcast Moment: Does Podcasting Need Special Regulation?
The popular Open Chats podcast has found itself mired in controversy recently, after some members made inflammatory comments about the Coloured community. This has sparked backlash from across the political spectrum, from the ANC, DA and PA to the EFF.
The Herald
3 hours ago
- The Herald
Political parties weigh in 'racist' remark on 'Open Chats Podcast'
The DA did not accept the podcast's apology. 'An apology alone does not erase the harm caused nor absolve the perpetrators from accountability,' said Meyer. The ANC has also condemned the remarks made by the podcasters. 'These statements are not only offensive but run counter to the founding values of our democratic society, values of human dignity, nonracialism and unity, as enshrined in our constitution and the Freedom Charter,' said ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu. 'To generalise and mock an entire community in the manner that was done on this platform is not only deeply hurtful but also a betrayal of the progress South Africans have made, together, in building a nation united in its diversity. 'We are reminded painfully of the crude stereotypes of our apartheid past, where people were reduced to caricatures to justify exclusion and humiliation.' TimesLIVE
