IFP slams 'electricity for votes' in mayor awards
The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal has slammed the Harry Gwala District Municipality saying its mayor has been abusing state funds to gain votes for the upcoming Mayoral Excellence Awards.
The IFP says it has seen posters bearing an image of the mayor, Mluleki Ndobe offering residents a chance to win R6 000 in prepaid electricity vouchers if they vote for him.
Newswatch has also come across a similar poster on social media, seemingly offering this incentive for residents to vote via SMS for eThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo.
The IFP's Blessed Gwala says state funds is being abused.
''Six thousand rands worth of electricity which will be state resources or state money in return these people must vote for you as the best mayor for your own benefit. It's tantamount to corruption,'' he said.
Co-operative Governance's Lennox Mabaso says the vouchers are not a government sponsored prize.
''The vouchers have got nothing to do with the municipality. The vouchers are from a sponsor who has partnered with Cogta.
''They've got nothing to do with the municipality,'' he stressed.
Below is an image of a poster showing eThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo.
(Photo via Facebook)