Mayor responds to
march memo
Dave
Savides
UMHLATHUZE City
Mayor - Denny
Moffatt, has
condemned Friday’s
march by the ANC,
during which a
memorandum was
handed over calling
for, among others, a
forensic audit.
The topic was raised
at Tuesday’s Exco
meeting, where it
was agreed that the
City’s Chief
Financial Officer
should determine the
scope and cost of an
external audit.
Confident that the
audit would reveal
no discrepancies,
Moffatt said the
results should be
published in the
press.
‘The question of
whether the ANC
should carry the
cost of the audit
also needs to be
addressed,’ said
Moffatt.
Substantiated
response
Earlier, he had said
that a reaction to
the memorandum was
essential.
‘However it should
not be a knee-jerk
type of response and
we should consult
with our accountants
and officials so
that information is
fully
substantiated,’ said
Moffatt.
‘Whatever our
response, it should
be complete,
accurate and honest,
as has been our
habit.
‘This will follow
once we have all the
facts.’
In a statement to
the Zululand
Observer prior to
Tuesday’s Exco
meeting, Moffatt
condemned the
‘aggressive stance’
chosen by the ANC.
He deplored threats
of violence that had
been made ‘during
most horrific
behaviour by the ANC
in Council
Chambers’, which had
led to extra
security costs as
well as complaints
having been laid
with the police.
‘These threats have
resulted in a
strengthening of
will, not
capitulation.
‘Their problem is
that we simply
cannot be faulted on
our performance,
including the issues
raised such as the
delivery of basic
services, and
instead chose a
course of conflict,
which is not good
for the City,’ said
Moffatt.
‘It should be noted
that we have tried
to avoid the
confrontational
course of action
that the ANC has
embarked upon.
‘The memorandum
handed over on
Friday is just a
part of their plan
to destabilise and
intimidate people.
‘The march, which
was a failure in
terms of numbers,
cost ratepayers a
great deal of
money.’
