MEC ‘deliberately’ sabotaged event

EASTERN Cape Social Development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi, said her department had nothing to do with the failed “16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children” event held in Nelson Mandela Bay at the weekend, where President Jacob Zuma was a no-show.

Sihlwayi was responding to criticism from the ANC in the province.

Zuma failed to show up at the poorly attended launch of the event at the Missionvale campus of the Nelson Mandela University Missionvale in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. Zuma was billed to address the event scheduled to start at 10am, but a statement issued by the Presidency some time afterwards said he would be represented at the event by Minister in the Presidency responsible for women, Susan Shabangu.

No reason was given for the change. At the time, Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle told those present that Zuma did not attend the event because “it was behind schedule”.

Some people in the crowd expressed their disappointment, saying they were looking forward to bidding Zuma “farewell”. Others were quick to say they suspected the poor attendance was the actual reason for his no-show. Some people also used the event to hand out pro-Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma T-shirts, supporting the former AU Commission chairwoman’s candidacy for ANC president ahead of the party’s elective conference next month.

ANC provincial secretary, Lulama Ngcukaitobi, blamed Sihlwayi and said she “deliberately” sabotaged the event.

Ngcukayitobi said Sihlwayi’s stubbornness and recklessness led to her moving the preplanned event from Alfred Nzo to Nelson Mandela Bay Metro only to “satisfy her thirst to serve the factional political attitude”.

However, Eastern Cape Social Development spokesman Mzukisi Solani dismissed the complaints by the ANC as sensationalism. “This was not an event of the MEC. It was a national event. It was not organised by the Department of Social Development. It was organised by a minister in the Presidency,” Solani said.

“It was the responsibility of the department to facilitate the event, budgeting of the event had nothing to do with the department. We must not be swayed by sensationalism.”

Sihlwayi reportedly co-ordinated the busing in of people from old-age homes and mobilised youth from various communities to attend the event. – ANA