Rift widens in strife-torn municipality

Ingquza Hill Municipality mayor William Ngozi

The battle lines have been drawn in a small Transkei municipality that has been marred by political violence, with claims of a standoff between the ANC and SACP, writes Bongani Hans.
Tensions have been running high in the deeply divided Ingquza Hill Municipality in Lusikisiki in recent months, at times resulting in public violence.

Last weekend eight people were injured when an ANC meeting to discuss problems in the municipality turned violent.

A gunman who was part of a group of protesters demanding to sit in on the ANC meeting, addressed by the party’s national executive committee (NEC), caused panic when he opened fire.

This was the fourth meeting at the municipality that had turned violent. A few months back, eight ANC councillors were injured when chaos erupted at a council meeting.

The Saturday Dispatch visited the municipality this week and spoke to residents who claimed the political infighting had impacted on service delivery.

There are two camps within the ANC pointing fingers at each other for the problems. Deputy chairperson of the ANC in Ward 20 (Wombe Village, outside Lusikisiki) Nkosinathi Mkhumbuzi placed the problems plaguing Ingquza Hill firmly at the door of the SACP.

“Members of the SACP are running the municipality under the name of the ANC. We want to reclaim the municipality (for) the ANC,” said Mkhumbuzi, who leads a group known as “Pro ANC”.

This group has been known for organising marches against Mayor William Ngozi, alleging he is controlled by the communists.

Mkhumbuzi said Ngozi had been suspended by the previous provincial executive committee (PEC) amid allegations of holding factional meetings and disrupting ANC meetings. He was given until July 1 to quit his post.

With the election of the new PEC headed by Phumulo Masualle, nothing ever came of the disciplinary action and Ngozi remained mayor, he added. Masualle is the SACP’s national treasurer.

“It is obvious that the PEC won’t act against Ngozi and his people because the whole PEC supports him,” said another “Pro ANC” member.

But Ngozi refuted claims that he was being used by anyone, saying those who did not like him would have to live with their unhappiness until he stepped down in 2011 after the municipal elections.

Read the full story online or in the print edition.