ANDILE MOSHOESHOE
GREATER Kokstad Municipality mayor Lwanda Madikizela has strongly criticised the conduct of certain individuals accused of using government programmes for personal gains. He warned those individuals that their time is up for doing as they please, saying that the municipality will no longer tolerate such conduct that undermines public trust. He said future development programmes will be monitored more rigorously to ensure equitable access and fairness.
Madikizela was speaking during Operation Mbo in the farm area of Thuthukani outside Kokstad on Wednesday, June 10. Operation Mbo is a government-led outreach initiative designed to bring essential public services directly to rural communities while eliminating the burden of travelling long distances for residents to access government services.
Madikizela’s reaction was as a result of claims about individuals who often interfere in government programmes using their powers for political and personal gains. Claims of individuals manipulating government development programmes to favour friends, relatives and political associates surfaced during community engagement sessions.
In response, Madikizela assured residents that the municipality remains committed to addressing pressing developmental challenges confronting the community.
Apparently, his criticism towards the misconduct of individuals also involved his political home, the ANC. He said that some of ANC challenges are self-inflicted. His remarks went further to link the ANC’s declining support in some communities to failures in local governance, accountability and ethical leadership.
“The rise of parties such as the MK Party in our communities is a consequence of our own shortcomings. We are not serving our people as we should. These problems are not being created by outsiders; they are being created by our own leaders, including some ward committee members,” he claimed.
