More opposition parties balk at local lockdown solidarity funds

An SA Local Government Association directive for all municipalities to establish Covid-19 solidarity funds, where 4% is meant to be deducted from councillors salaries for three months, is receiving mixed responses.

While most ruling ANC councillors are in full support, some opposition parties want nothing to do with it.

Despite their council having resolved last week to establish the fund, opposition party councillors in Mbhashe have recorded their dissent and concerns, with some explicitly stating they would not contribute a single cent.

During a virtual special council meeting last week, councillors agreed to establish the fund meant to help struggling families during the lockdown, municipal spokesperson Nonceba Kolwane confirmed on Monday.

“We followed all due processes such as election of board members as prescribed. Councillors are now submitting consent forms as a way of authorising the 4% deduction,” Kolwane said.

However, opposition parties said they were already contributing to the national fund announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to help with the fight against Covid-19.  

Like opposition parties in Buffalo City Metro, after last Thursday's special council meeting the parties in Mbashe raised fears of corruption in the administration of the fund.

Mbhashe DA councillor Thabisa Goniwe said on Monday they had not yet decided whether to contribute to the local fund or not.

“The party has raised a number of concerns around this, including about the way the fund was formulated.

“We are told it will be administered by an independent board, but at the same time we are told the mayor should chair this board and two ANC councillors will serve on it.

“There will be no independence in that because we all know that once money is in the hands of the ANC, something wrong is bound to happen to that money, and it will end up being used in a wrong way,” Goniwe said.

UDM councillor Nkosinathi Ndlodaka said his party wanted nothing to do with the local fund.

“We told the council they can establish such a fund, but they must not include us in the list of those who will be contributing as we are already doing so nationally. 

“We do not trust that such a fund will be used for what it is intended, hence we have decided to find our own ways of delivering aid and food parcels to our communities without being involved in it,” he said.

Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha said on Monday no one would be forced to contribute to the local funds.

“They are exercising their rights by refusing to contribute to such fund. This is voluntary and no one is compelled to do so if they do not wish,” said Nqatha.

On Friday DispatchLIVE reported that a number of opposition party councillors in BCM had distanced themselves from a similar fund in their council over fears of corruption and the fact that they were already contributing through their national offices.

The BCM solidarity fund was resolved on although some councillors had lost connection to the council meeting.

Salga spokesperson Sandiswa Mahlangabeza had not responded to questions by print deadline on Monday.

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