Former mayor hits out at city
FORMER uMhlathuze mayor Denny Moffatt condemned the present administration as he addressed an open IFP electioneering meeting on Friday at the Richards Bay civic centre.
Speaking on the topic ‘How to make Richards Bay great again’, he catalogued his views on what the ruling party had done to undermine the needs of citizens at local, provincial and national level.
‘The terrible condition of the building in which we are now meeting is symbolic of the state of the city and nation reduced to junk status,’ said Moffatt.
‘Council should study the Moody Report and learn from its comments.
‘I worked in the building for many years, during which all the politicians and officials held a sense of pride. This, in turn, created a commitment to the community, and simultaneously some form of confidence for investors.
‘What have the mayor and council done to attract business, which does not just fall from heaven?’ he asked.
‘They have failed to maximise the potential of the port, the well-trained labour force, outstanding health and educational facilities, and highly talented businesspeople and professionals.
‘Locally, we need to return to the drawing board and resuscitate some old projects, such as the ship repair facility and pulp mill.
‘Politics and administration should not be mixed; it should be the best person for the job.’
Hinting at ‘clever corruption which often is not picked up in an audit’, Moffatt said uMhlathuze ‘did not appear at the Zondo Commission for nothing’.
‘One must look very carefully at the tender system. There will be corruption, and do not ignore small tenders.’
Moffatt lambasted corruption and the ‘gross stealing of funds’, such as with the Digital Vibes scandal.
‘The scandals and incompetence are a daily disappointment,’ he said.
‘However there are solutions, one of which is to vote your disgust in the coming elections.’