Celani Sikhakhane
The Inkatha Freedom Party led Ulundi local municipality has been accused of trying to block the memorial service and funeral of the late leader of the rival National Freedom Party, Zanele KaMagwaza Msibi.
On Wednesday night, the family says it was forced to remove the tent which was erected at the park next to KZN Legislature buildings where the memorial service was going to be held.
The family said they erected the tent after being refused access to other municipal venues.
The family believes the decision was politically motivated.
At the eleventh hour, the Roman Catholic Church leaders offered the family a venue for the memorial service that took place on Thursday.
KaMagwaza Msibi was expelled from the IFP and started the National Freedom Party in February 2011. She had a stroke in November 2014 at her home in Newcastle four months after she was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. She never fully recovered and she died on Monday morning.
Family spokesperson Sphamandla Ntombela told Scrolla.Africa that it was a painful experience which they never expected. They asked to hold the service at the Prince Mangosuthu stadium, but the ULundi Municipality refused.
“We then asked the Prince Mandisa Community Hall which was built by kaMagwaza Msibi during her 15 year tenure as the Mayor of Zululand,” Ntombela said.
But they were turned down again.
“We then decided to use the open field which is next to the old legislature buildings. That is where they sent police to remove the erected tent,” Ntombela said.
Municipal Manager Nkosenye Zulu said they couldn’t allow the use of the stadium because of Covid-19 regulations.
He denied that the municipality sent the police to remove the tent.
