Protest against ANC eThekwini councillor

23 August 2016 - 16:09 By Matthew Savides

Wiseman Dlamini is an angry man. The Umlazi‚ Durban‚ resident was part of a group of about 20 ANC members who protested against their own party outside the Durban city hall on Tuesday as the eThekwini municipality councillors were sworn in.Dlamini believes the wrong man will represent his ward - Ward 80‚ Umlazi - for the five-year term of office. He claimed that a faction within the ruling party "stole the agenda" and imposed councillor Mthokozisi Nojiyeza on them. The ANC has been beset with faction fighting‚ resulting in 58 disgruntled members standing as Independents in eThekwini alone. "This isn't the man we want. He doesn't do anything for us. He just gives us empty promises‚" said Dlamini‚ who was holding up a poster of Zamani "Pro" Mthethwa‚ an ANC member who stood as an independent candidate for the ward. Dlamini said that Mthethwa "will actually do something for us". "We don't need Nojiyeza any more. That's why I came here.If I wasn't so angry‚ I wouldn't be here‚" said Dlamini. Other protesters were from Ward 19 and Ward 75. Meanwhile‚ voting was underway shortly after midday to elect the municipal mayor‚ deputy mayor‚ speaker and committee chairs. The members of the multi-party executive committee would also be elected to the powerful decision-making body. The ANC's majority - with 126 seats in the 220-seat council - means that its candidate for mayor‚ Zandile Gumede‚ deputy mayor‚ Fawzia Peer‚ and speaker‚ Lekgoa Mapena‚ were likely to be elected.TMG Digital/The Times..

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