We will end DA’S dominance in Chatsworth – MKP
THE umkhonto Wesizwe Party has vowed to end the DA’S dominance in the predominantly Indian region of Chatsworth, Durban.
The MKP’S regional leadership and its local members descended on the region yesterday doing door-to-door campaigns for votes. Armed with T-shirts and pamphlets, the party volunteers spent the day conveying the party’s political message to residents, mostly targeting Indian community members. The drive ended in a mini rally at Mobeni Heights Hall.
Speaking to the Daily News after the drive, the Naidoo-makhaye Zone co-ordinator Fatima Mohammed told the paper that the MKP would end the DA’S dominance in Chatsworth. She said the DA had been dominant in the region, but since the formation of the MKP, the winds of change had blown in the direction of her party.
“We have worked the ground and the Indian community is accepting us well wherever we visit them. So, on May 29 we will bury the DA in Chatsworth and take a two-thirds majority of the votes,” said Mohammed.
Her zone incorporates all eight wards in Chatsworth, including the predominantly black section of Welbedacht.
The DA’S provincial chairperson, Dean Macpherson, laughed off MKP’S claim that it would capture Chatsworth from it, saying the party was daydreaming.
“Just like they are dreaming of getting a two-thirds majority, so they are dreaming and delusional of dominating Chatsworth. The DA has a very strong record of fighting for the people of Chatsworth and under our premier candidate, Chris Pappas, we will continue to prioritise development and job creation for not only this community, but everyone across the province,” said Macpherson.
Chatsworth has been the DA’S stronghold and in the 2021 local government elections, it made a clean sweep, taking the majority of the wards, including Welbedacht, from the ANC.
The rally was also addressed by the recently expelled party youth league leader Bonginkosi Khanyile, who proved to still be the youth’s favourite and received a resounding welcome.
Khanyile said the MKP belonged to all the people. He emphasised the importance of getting a two-thirds majority so that the constitution of the country could be changed.
Kwazulu-natal provincial co-ordinator Nhlanhla Ngidi also emphasised the importance of winning the election with an overwhelming majority, saying if the MKP failed to do so, the levels of poverty among black people would double or triple. He sent a strong warning to white landowners that under an MKP government they would have to hand a big portion of land back to the majority or face eviction.
Ngidi, touted as the premier candidate, also warned of divisions among the party members, urging them to focus on winning the election next month and see to other things later.
He was apparently referring to the elective conference which the party had announced that it would be held after elections to avoid divisions.
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KWAZULU-NATAL Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Siboniso Duma has promised to assist small businesses that were affected by the devastating floods in Margate on the South Coast.
Accompanied by Ugu District and Ray Nkonyeni Municipality officials, Duma visited the town on Tuesday to see for himself the trail of destruction.
The MEC announced that his department would roll out flood relief packages to assist informal traders and displaced hawkers who lost their sources of income, as well as make interventions to assist businesses affected by destruction of socio-economic infrastructure such as roads.
The MEC also announced that his department would work with the municipality to accelerate interventions at Margate Airport, adding that he was disturbed to see that the airport was also flooded since his department had recently injected R11 million into upgrading it.
“As we speed up relief interventions, we continue to communicate the message that climate change is the biggest threat to human development. It is becoming the defining challenge for the 21st century. Unfortunately, the gains we have made in our quest to ensure economic recovery and the growth of tourism are threatened by recurring storms and floods. Climate change is affecting almost every sector of KZN’S economy,” said Duma.
Duma also told businesspeople that he was in constant communication with the national government to declare the town a disaster area, adding that he has also personally interacted with President Cyril Ramaphosa, who always provided bold leadership during such crises.
“We are comforted by the fact that the national government is in constant liaison with the province, especially the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng. She is liaising with our MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Bongi Sitholemoloi, who was here yesterday,” concluded Duma.
The area was also visited by the provincial DA premier candidate Chris Pappas, who found that Margate’s storm and drain systems were not up to par to mitigate heavy downpours.
The storm that swept through the tourist town on Sunday left five people dead and a trail of business and infrastructure destruction.