The SACP had its ordinary District Council meeting on the 5th of August 2007 attended by more than 60 delegates from SACP branches across the district/ region. The meeting noted the Sunday reports about our General Secretary, Blade Nzimande and allegations of a R500 000 fraud. We view the allegations as part of the broader anti communist agenda to discredit the SACP and its leadership. We wish to state our unqualified support and confidence to our General Secretary and we say Hands OFF to our party and its leaders!
The council also noted with concern the insensitive comments by some of our leaders pertaining to the problems besetting the Frere Hospital and the provincial health system in general. We view the problems as systemic and a deeper reflection of our micro economic policy that continues to fail the workers and the poor.
However, we support the view expressed by the Deputy Minister of Health that the situation at the Frere Hospital is a "national emergency" and trust that the latest reports about possible "travel gate" against her are not related with the stance she has taken on issues such as HIV/AIDS and Frere Hospital. The meeting resolved that all party branches in the Buffalo City area will join the Save Makhiwane Campaign against the down grading of Cecilia Makhawane and embark on a broader campaign for quality public health care.
The council further expressed its support to the statements made by its District Secretary, Xolile Nqatha that the removal our Deputy District Chairperson, Anele Ntsangani as Mayor of Nkonkobe Local Municipality represented nothing else but a cover up to allegations of corruption and mismanagement affecting the former municipal manager S. Mdila who is the African National Congress Regional Secretary.
The council also welcomed the challenge by the ANC Regional Chairperson, Mr Mluleki George for anyone with information to come forward. As SACP, we have always wanted to make this information available through a meeting of the alliance but the regional ANC has failed to respond to requests made for the past 2 years. The council resolved to continue to mobilize its structures for a rolling mass action against corruption and for the re-instatement of Ntsangani as mayor.
The District/Regional Executive Committee of the SACP was also mandated to engage with Amathole District Municipality which commissioned the Gobodo Forensic Accounting which contains damning reports of alleged corruption and mismanagement against Mr Mdila and other senior officials.
To this effect we will impress on them to ensure that the reasons that made them to commission the investigation are taken its logical conclusion as the report seem to gathering dust without due processes being followed. Also to be engaged is the National Prosecuting Authority as they are reported to have all the information pertaining to the issue.
Xolile Nqatha
District Secretary
Tel: 043 726 4312
Cell: 073 034 7923
Fax: 043-721 3174
Email: xolile@dtcc.org.za