EMBATTLED Inkwanca mayor Mthandazo Qamngwana blamed his staff, his party and the people for sabotaging the collapsed municipality.
On Thursday, as 1000 people of Molteno held a vibrant march and blockade of the R56, in Sterkstroom 26km away, Qamngwana addressed a half-full community hall.
About 100 bored-looking youths in yellow party T-shirts were roused and handmade placards passed out to sing and dance for the Dispatch team, which arrived late after covering the tumult in Molteno.
The mayor claimed the municipality was split and his faction’s support for former Chris Hani regional secretary Michael Peter for the post of provincial secretary of the ANC was behind a forensic investigation and the mass uprising against him in Molteno.
Qamngwana alleged he and municipal manager Galleot Sgojo were “forced to flee” from the Inkwanca “seat” in Molteno by a Sanco-motivated mob.
The men set up temporary offices in his hometown of Sterkstroom.
He said the service delivery protests were a smokescreen for a “political contest” within the ruling party, but there was also a battle for power and resources between Molteno and Sterkstroom.
He rehashed their position in the Grahamstown High Court where his side had argued that the forensic audit was legally flawed.
“It was a witchhunt from the outset. It was political banditry. We defeated them in court,” he claimed.
Asked why his council had not heeded the court order for his council to discuss and decide on the report’s findings and recommendations and report back to court, Qamngwana said: “We have not yet passed a resolution because we have appealed the ruling. How do you legitimise something which was illegitimate from the outset.”
He denied a comment from a Hawk’s source that he and Sgojo had jumped out the window when the Hawks arrived to investigate fraud earlier in the year. “My office has burglar bars. No Hawks officer came to my office.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
VIDEO: Mayor blames many for Inkwanca failure
On Thursday, as 1000 people of Molteno held a vibrant march and blockade of the R56, in Sterkstroom 26km away, Qamngwana addressed a half-full community hall.
About 100 bored-looking youths in yellow party T-shirts were roused and handmade placards passed out to sing and dance for the Dispatch team, which arrived late after covering the tumult in Molteno.
The mayor claimed the municipality was split and his faction’s support for former Chris Hani regional secretary Michael Peter for the post of provincial secretary of the ANC was behind a forensic investigation and the mass uprising against him in Molteno.
Qamngwana alleged he and municipal manager Galleot Sgojo were “forced to flee” from the Inkwanca “seat” in Molteno by a Sanco-motivated mob.
The men set up temporary offices in his hometown of Sterkstroom.
He said the service delivery protests were a smokescreen for a “political contest” within the ruling party, but there was also a battle for power and resources between Molteno and Sterkstroom.
He rehashed their position in the Grahamstown High Court where his side had argued that the forensic audit was legally flawed.
“It was a witchhunt from the outset. It was political banditry. We defeated them in court,” he claimed.
Asked why his council had not heeded the court order for his council to discuss and decide on the report’s findings and recommendations and report back to court, Qamngwana said: “We have not yet passed a resolution because we have appealed the ruling. How do you legitimise something which was illegitimate from the outset.”
He denied a comment from a Hawk’s source that he and Sgojo had jumped out the window when the Hawks arrived to investigate fraud earlier in the year. “My office has burglar bars. No Hawks officer came to my office.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos