Media Statement by Cllr Remington Mazibuko, Provincial Chairperson of the UDM in KwaZulu Natal

This morning a large convoy of taxis from the Local Taxi Association blocked the Endumeni Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal’s entrance to the building, demanding an immediate outstanding payment of R77,000 for, as we understand it, transporting IFP members and supporters from Dundee to Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP) manifesto launch that was held in Durban on 10 March 2024.

From the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) investigation, it is said that the Mayor of Endumeni, Mr Siyabonga Ndlovu, accompanied by Cllr Xaba, the IFP Chairperson of Endumeni Constituency, approached the Taxi Association to transport IFP members and supporters to their manifesto event on the undertaking that the municipality would settle the bill on Monday, 11 March 2024.

The source within the Association revealed that after a lot of run around afterwards trying to get paid for their services, the Mayor allegedly referred them to the Municipal Manager who would, according to the Mayor, arrange for the bill to be settled by the Municipality.

After a lot of frustration from the Municipal Manager, the Association allegedly resolved to go block the entrance to the Municipality as an attempt to encourage the Municipality to settle the debt. They met the Municipal Manager who allegedly immediately arranged with one notorious Service Provider, Masiziqalele to settle the bill of R77,000 immediately, with the arrangements to creatively invoice the Municipality for some ‘services rendered’… Such payment is said to reflect on the Taxi Association account as “Asakhane”, as per the source within the Association.

This notorious Service Provider is famous for a R6 million generator scandal that shook the country, which he supplied to Umzinyathi District Municipality; for the Endumeni Municipality, he was awarded a Dundee Cemetery Tender towards the end of 2023.

The UDM in KwaZulu-Natal, through this statement, petitions the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and all concerned bodies to investigate and intervene to ensure that the IFP and the Endumeni Municipality are barred from stealing Endumeni community funds to use for the IFP campaigns, funds which are earmarked for the local people’s development