WATCH: Opposition parties boycott state of the metro address
Disgruntled opposition parties from the Buffalo City Metro council yesterday boycotted the state of the metro address at the Abbotsford Christian Centre, where mayor Alfred Mtsi made his last address outlining the metro plans towards 2030.
For the first time in history, the council’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, shunned the event.
The party was not alone in its boycott as COPE and the PAC also reportedly boycotted the event, leaving only one opposition councillor from the ACDP.
DA councillor Jan Smit said the party had decided to boycott the event as a way of showing its “dissatisfaction and discontent with the current state of BCM”.
“Caucus wrote to the speaker to tender its apologies to prevent wasteful expenditure relating to the costs of catering.”
“For the past five years, the DA was vocal in every forum possible to resolve the problems of the city, all which were ignored while the problems and challenges just persist and worsen.”
Council speaker Zoliswa Matana accused the party of costing the city money as they only cancelled the day before the event.
Those in attendance included Tourism Deputy Minister Thoko Xasa, provincial legislature speaker Noxolo Kiviet, MPs Xoliswa Tom and Zukisa Faku, and former BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha.
Some of the issues that sparked the boycott included:
- Poor service delivery and poor administration without any consequences;
- Dubious appointment of incompetent staff;
- Lack of a proper information technology system;
- Ageing infrastructure which is not maintained;
- Non-implementation of by-laws;
- Uncontrolled and illegal land invasions; and
- Non-adherence to national Treasury directives and the Municipal Finance Management Act, and uncontrolled fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Smit said issues of major concern included the appointment of incompetent contractors with political connections.
COPE councillor Khayalindile Twalingca lambasted the metro for “only” inviting councillors.
“Their invitation was so poor it was clear that they were not serious about inviting our political parties,” he said.
Matana said yesterday she only received an apology from the DA and not other parties.
“I received the apology from DA ... They have contributed to irregular expenditure because of their absence.” — mamelag@dispatch.co.za