DURBAN — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) staged a march to Durban City Hall, demanding accountability over alleged corruption and persistent service delivery failures in the eThekwini Municipality.
The demonstration, which commenced at Curry’s Fountain, concluded with the handover of a memorandum of demands compiled from grievances across local townships. MK Party Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo stated the action was prompted by “corruption recently unveiled before Scopa,” referring to testimony municipal officials gave before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
“Our comrades who sit in Scopa, our members of parliament, unveiled a lot of issues which we were aware of but they exposed the deep-seated rot of corruption,” Nomvalo said. He affirmed the party possesses evidence to support its allegations and would elaborate fully upon the memorandum’s formal presentation.
Key demands cited inadequate water infrastructure maintenance, which Nomvalo alleged enables tender manipulation through contracts for water tanker services. He also raised longstanding concerns regarding the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), claiming it has been co-opted by the African National Congress to recruit volunteers and coerce public participation in ANC political activities.
“EPWP employees tell us they are in this thing for survival purposes, receiving small and stupid salaries on a month-to-month basis,” Nomvalo stated. He alleged workers face intimidation to wear ANC apparel and campaign for the party under threat of dismissal.
When questioned about the Democratic Alliance’s parallel anti-corruption stance, Nomvalo dismissed the party’s position. “We’re just telling me about clowns when we are talking about the DA, those right-wingers, neoliberal,” he said, emphasizing the MK Party’s mandate derives from grassroots engagement and represents “the poorest of the poorest.”
Addressing foreign nationals and the March4March movement, Nomvalo expressed sympathy for the group’s objectives while criticizing government labeling tactics. He affirmed that illegal immigration impacts all residents and stated individuals should register with Home Affairs to enable proper tracking. “If you are here in this country in good faith and for good objectives you must register with home affairs so that you become a legal citizen or a legal person in this country so that the government can be able to trace you,” he said.
Nomvalo indicated the MK Party would announce its position on March and March’s proposed June 30 national shutdown, suggesting likely support given what he termed government’s “dismal failure” to address illegal immigration. He noted agreement with calls for peace and stability while maintaining the legitimacy of community grievances.
The march concluded with the memorandum’s submission to municipal leadership, with the MK Party pledging continued advocacy for accountability and improved service delivery.
