The IFP has called upon the ANC and the KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize to relieve Ms Peggy Nkonyeni - Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature - and Mr. Mike Mabuyakhulu - MEC for Economic Development and Tourism - of their duties as soon as possible now that they have appeared in court and been charged.
In a statement issued today, IFP Whip MPL Mntomuhle Khawula said:
"While we welcome the fact that Speaker Nkonyeni and MEC Mabuyakhulu have been finally dragged to court, we are disturbed that there was a lot of dilly-dallying and indecisiveness by the law-enforcement agencies. And even when they decided to act, they seemed to accord the two leaders a rare privilege of having their cases treated with some level of secrecy; and they appeared more concerned with the image of the country than uprooting crime. Ordinary people do not enjoy such red-carpet treatment at the hand of law-enforcement agencies.
"But of importance is that now that they have appeared in court and been charged, both these leaders must do what is honourable, which is to step down from their official positions until their case has run its course. However, if they lack the integrity to voluntarily step down, we call upon the ruling ANC and the Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize to take it upon themselves to relieve these leaders of their duties. This is the least the ANC can do as a step towards changing its image as a party which tolerates fraud and corruption. Any continued execution of official duties by the two leaders will compromise the integrity of both the Provincial Legislature and Government.
"In any case the Premier and the ANC will be doing nothing new because the then President of South Africa, Mr. Thabo Mbeki relieved the then Deputy President of South Africa, Mr. JZ Zuma from his position in order to protect the integrity of Parliament and Government. That is the type of leadership required if the ANC is serious about turning the tide against fraud and corruption"
Statement issued by Mr. Mntomuhle Khawula, MPL, IFP Whip in the KZN legislature, August 2 2011
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