Sihle Mavuso presents the latest news from KwaZulu-Natal.
Pietermaritzburg – The battle for control of the Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) is over. On Friday, the Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed with costs an application by a faction led by Bhungu Gwala and others to oust Philani “PG” Mavundla as the party’s president. Gwala and his faction wanted Mavundla out, claiming that a special congress in Ladysmith last year had resolved that he abused his powers and party funds and should be expelled.
Mandeni – The MEC for Transport and the ANC’s deputy KwaZulu-Natal secretary, Sipho Hlomuka, has disputed claims that his department underspent in the last financial year and returned over R1-billion to the national treasury. Hlomuka says the claims made by IFP’s Thami Ntuli on Thursday during a rally in Mandeni are misleading as his department had only overspent by R120,000, which is acceptable in terms of the laws governing public finances.
Umzimkhulu – Another municipality run by the ANC has turned down the IFP’s application to hold a rally in its town. The IFP wanted to hold a rally on 4 May in the southern KZN town of Umzimkhulu, but the municipality manager, Andile Ngcoya, turned them down. In his letter to the party, Ngcoya said this was done to prevent any “political instability”. The nearby Kokstad municipality also turned down the IFP’s request to hold a rally in the town recently.
Gingindlovu – The South African Farmers Development Association (Safda) is celebrating after an act of Parliament granted it permanent member status to have a say in the country’s sugar industry. The association of previously disadvantaged black farmers broke away from the white-dominated South African Sugar Association after disagreements on how to be more inclusive. However, Safda was not recognised until it lobbied Parliament to amend the Sugar Act and allow it to have a say. To kick off its black development mandate, the association was in Gingindlovu in northern KZN on Friday where it handed yellow plant equipment – excavators, bulldozers, backhoes, loaders, and dump trucks – worth R17.5-million to developing farmers.
Richards Bay – The City of Umhlathuze has encouraged people living in its rural areas to consider becoming farmers. It says agriculture is the country’s next economic growth frontier, as people will always need food. The municipality’s mayor, Xolani Ngwezi, said the municipality stands ready to assist and uplift emerging farmers. He addressed farmers today during their annual imbizo held at Empangeni Civic Centre.
Pictured above: Philani Mavundla has won the battle for the ABC.
Image source: Sihle Mavuso
