The removal of corrupt Newcastle Mayor, Ntuthuko Mhlaba, from the ANC candidate list, albeit at the eleventh hour, is welcomed by ActionSA. We have insisted that the people of Newcastle deserve ethical, law-abiding, and competent leadership – Mhlaba is not that leader. ActionSA remains adamant that the ANC cannot continue to hold the citizens of this country to ransom by continuously protecting their criminal and unscrupulous cadres.
Whilst we note that the ANC has made Mhlaba ‘step aside’, we question whether this is truly a move towards accountability. In Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), the ANC has consistently demonstrated a nasty tendency of rewarding corrupt mayors. Former uMngungundlovu mayor, Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, was rewarded with an MEC appointment post her forced removal. The same is true of former eThekwini mayor, Zandile Gumede, who was removed from office and later resurfaced as a member of the legislature in KZN.
Recently, Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa–Nqakula was removed as Minister of Defence following an appalling response to the recent acts of insurrection that saw the death of residents across KZN and the looting of businesses. For her failure, Mapisa–Nqakula was appointed as Speaker of Parliament. This is the very person who failed to act in defence or law-abiding residents and subsequently cost the province of KZN approximately R50 billion in losses, precious lives and thousands of jobs. The ANC is clearly determined to reward incompetence, criminality, and mediocrity at the expense of the South Africans.
Left unchecked, the ANC will use our governance oversight structures as dumping grounds for their corrupt politicians – thereby weaking these key institutions.
Mhlaba has remained in office whilst facing charges of assault, damage to property and theft. His continued presence in the office of the Executive Mayor is a frightening reminder that, in our present political dispensation, residents can be left at the mercy of mafia bosses parading as politicians. For Mahlaba – who was also accused of murder in 2016 – this isn’t a stretch of the imagination. Indeed, the accusations against Mahlaba “disappeared” when the key witness met a suspicious and untimely death
This illustrates the ANC’s failure to end corruption amongst its own ranks. Had the ANC followed its own due processes and applied their own ‘step aside’ rule effectively, the disgraced mayor would be awaiting trial at home and not haunting the halls of the municipality.
Through their inability to act swiftly on this matter, and in waiting for the very last hour to seemingly decide on the fate of Mhlaba and other members of the ANC currently facing criminal charges, including the disgraced mayor of Nkangala, Thembi Sarah Masilela, the ANC has proven that its factional battles and protecting cadres are more important than ensuring good governance.
The IEC submission deadline on 23 August 2021, should not have been the only motivation for the ANC to act against Mhlaba. In an ideal society, criminal charges of a serious nature should compel the individual who holds public office to respect that dignity of their office and remove themselves from active duty whilst facing charges. That however can only be achieved if the individual in question espouses all the qualities of ethical leadership.
The people of Newcastle deserve better than what is currently being offered to them. Mhlaba is a dishonourable man who cannot continue to outrun the law. He should resign as mayor of Newcastle and afford his community an opportunity to be led by interim leadership whilst waiting for the Local Government Elections (LGE).
As ActionSA we are determined to ensure that the people of Newcastle have a viable alternative as they head to the polls.
We remain confident that the residents of Newcastle are gatvol of ANC corruption. In the coming local government elections, will present the people of Newcastle with true ethical and competent leadership. ActionSA will contest all 34 wards within the city.
Our country is bleeding and broken and the only thing that can salvage it is a change in governance. There is nothing that the ANC can do to salvage the country. The answer lies in offering the people of South Africa viable alternatives in the form of ActionSA with credible leaders.
We look forward to contesting the Local Government Elections.
