Political tensions are reaching a boiling point within Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. This was vividly displayed as a protest erupted outside the Newcastle Municipality Council Chambers at the Newcastle Show Grounds on Wednesday morning, 31 July 2024.
The chanting voices of Team Sugar South Africa (TSSA) members echoed through the air, as they were watched closely by a strong police presence.
Due to the tense situation, Newcastle Municipality Councillors had to use an alternative entrance to attend the council meeting. Additionally, municipal security and police officials securely closed the Show Ground gates to prevent the irate protesters from gaining access to the premises.
Siyabulela Jack, the Regional Secretary for TSSA, explained that the political party’s members were there to demand the removal of four former members from the council meeting. According to Jack, the four ex-TSSA members had no right to represent TSSA, as they had been dismissed from the political party. “We do not feel they should be here, as they are not our councillors anymore,” he emphasised.
Furthermore, it was highlighted that each of the four former TSSA members was equipped with bodyguards and drew a salary for their positions as councillors. The protesting TSSA members felt this was a misuse of taxpayers’ money, which could be better spent on service delivery within Newcastle. The protestors also believed that the four former TSSA members were being manipulated by other political parties within the Municipality for their own political agendas.
“Service delivery in Newcastle has deteriorated, and something needs to be done to remove the four councillors. The Newcastle Municipality keeps saying the matter is sub judice, but the Municipality is being biased and taxpayers’ money is being wasted,” Jack stressed.
It should be noted that, as reported by Newcastillian News in May 2024, the four councillors were dismissed from TSSA after attempting to oust the party’s founder and former Deputy Mayor, Musa Thwala, from the very political party he had established.
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Moreover, amidst the calls to remove the four former TSSA members, many TSSA protestors also demanded the removal of the Newcastle Mayor, Cllr Xolani Dube, and the Newcastle Municipal Speaker, Cllr Thengi Zulu, believing they should not hold leadership positions within the Newcastle Municipality.
Adding fuel to the fire, the protestors were incensed that they were denied entrance to the Show Grounds where the Council Chambers are located. “As community members, we are allowed to be present,” said an irate TSSA supporter. However, a security official on site explained that for safety reasons, they could not be allowed to enter as it could potentially see the situation escalate.
As Newcastle Municipality councillors were forced to use an alternative entrance at the rear of the premises to gain access to the council chambers, Newcastle Mayor Dube approached the demonstrators to discuss their grievances.
Reflecting on the protest, Cllr Dube noted that he could not provide much information on the matter as the TSSA debacle was still ongoing in court. However, he stated, “It is their political right to be here, but the matter is still in court, and once the court proceedings are complete, we will then take the necessary steps according to the court’s judgement.”
The police officials and Municipal security personnel were left to monitor the situation to ensure it did not escalate.
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One Response
I’m so shocked when I here that the Mayor of Newcastle is using his political power to take away job opportunity from the people who not support the IFP…I’m so surprised to here such shocked news,hence the IFP is the because people were tide about previous administration who suspended the workers…Now it IFP who done the same stupid mistake to most of Contract Worker’s who don’t support the IFP,same they even state that,if you want yr contract to be renew you must canvas 30 members to join IFP and bring them to the Mayor and the Mayor will renew your Contract, but if you are any political organisation of which it your right to be…The Officials “Mayor, Thabende and others they force the Department Management to not renew Contract from other political party’s,they have their own list of people…I’m so disappointed about this thing of Inkatha in Newcastle,,,,Cos this thing is similar with the one we had before to suspend workers… That means what voter’s did before to previous administration,that will happen to Inkatha from now on… imagine loosing a job to your own Municipality as a taxpayer just because of Politics, it so sad what the Mayor and his friends did to the poor people and this thing must be investigated and take it to the court for justice of Contract Worker’s…
done the same