The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has intensified pressure on the African National Congress (ANC)-led administration in the eThekwini Municipality, warning that the governing party’s hold on the metro is nearing its end amid growing concerns over governance and service delivery.
Speaking during a protest march in Durban, MK Party Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo accused ANC-run municipalities of widespread corruption and poor administration, arguing that local government structures have become vehicles for patronage and tender-related misconduct.
The demonstration began at Curries Fountain and drew hundreds of MK Party supporters from across the metro. Protesters marched in response to ongoing concerns about municipal governance following a recent hearing by Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), which examined issues raised by the Auditor-General.
Among the findings presented to Parliament were allegations of R6.4 billion in irregular expenditure over a two-year period. The hearing also heard claims of financial losses linked to maladministration, unauthorised departures from procurement procedures, and significant delays in infrastructure projects.
Nomvalo said the MK Party has lost confidence in ANC-led municipalities, alleging that corruption and mismanagement have undermined local government across the country. He argued that residents are increasingly frustrated by what they perceive as a failure to deliver essential services.
Supporters participating in the march echoed these concerns, claiming that corruption has contributed to deteriorating municipal services. They alleged that resources are available to address long-standing challenges such as water supply issues, drainage problems and damage caused by recurring floods, but that these issues have not been adequately addressed.
Some protesters also alleged that individuals who do not perform municipal duties continue to receive salaries from the municipality, while ratepayers are not receiving services commensurate with the taxes and fees they pay.
Participants in the march expressed confidence that the MK Party would eventually assume a governing role, saying residents were increasingly turning to the party to voice their grievances.
The protest concluded outside Durban City Hall, where party representatives handed a memorandum of demands to the office of the eThekwini mayor.
Among the demands were the immediate removal of officials accused of misconduct, an independent forensic audit of all active municipal supply chain contracts, urgent intervention to address the city’s substantial water losses, and an investigation into allegations of so-called “ghost workers” within the municipality.