Sihle Mavuso presents the latest news from KwaZulu-Natal.
Newcastle – The ANC in the Mbuso Kubheka region in northern KwaZulu-Natal has lost another prominent leader. Brian Thomo resigned on Tuesday as the branch secretary and a member of the influential Gebhuza branch. In his brief letter to the regional leadership, he said he would not divulge his reasons as they were personal. Thomo confirmed his resignation to Scrolla.Africa today after the ANC tried to keep the matter under wraps. Recently, the region’s chairperson, Arthur Zwane, also resigned.
Ulundi – Bethuel Nxumalo, the National Freedom Party (NFP) councillor in Ulundi whose vote was crucial in keeping the IFP in power in the town, has died in hospital. Nxumalo, who passed away this morning, defied his party – which was in coalition with the ANC – to vote with the IFP. Recently, NFP president Ivan Barnes wrote to the council and instructed it to remove Nxumalo, saying he was incapable of doing his work because he was sick. Before that, Nxumalo challenged his removal in the Pietermaritzburg High Court and won.
Pietermaritzburg – The controversial Piggy Farm trading company which was selling ‘virtual” pigs to people is facing closure after the Asset Forfeiture Unit obtained a preservation order to freeze its bank account containing R4.3-million. The unit applied for the order after the National Consumer Commission kicked off an investigation after receiving complaints from consumers that the company was running a Ponzi scheme. The business was selling pigs for R2,750 each, but buyers didn’t get the pigs. In return, they were promised R550 a month for 12 months, whereafter the “virtual” pig would be returned to Piggy Farm trading.
Lindelani – The community of Lindelani has once again become a victim of unexplained power cuts. Community members told Scrolla.Africa power was lost on Saturday and the ANC-run eThekwini municipality has not restored it. Several calls to the municipality yielded no results. In February, the community went for 14 consecutive days without power and engaged in violent protests until the municipality listened to them.
Umhlabuyalingana – The IFP-led Umhlabuyalingana municipality in Umkhanyakude has come to a virtual standstill following a leadership dispute within the Abahlali BakwaMhlabuyalinga party. The leadership squabble started when one of the civic movement’s councillors signed a vote of no confidence against his party which is in a coalition with the IFP. The vote was initiated by the ANC. The councillor was removed, but he challenged his removal in court and won.
Pictured above: ANC flag.
Image source: FIle
