ANC, DA, NFP and Zululand municipality trade accusations over use of boardroom for press conference

The press conference that was allegedly ended by the armed bodyguards. Picture: Supplied

The press conference that was allegedly ended by the armed bodyguards. Picture: Supplied

Published Jul 5, 2023

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A war of words has erupted between the councillors of the ANC, DA, and National Freedom Party (NFP) in the Zululand District Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal over a botched press conference on Monday.

The councillors of the three parties accused the bodyguards of the IFP mayor of the district municipality, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, of stopping their press conference and ejecting them from the municipal property.

According to Councillor Siphamandla Ntombela of the NFP in the district municipality, the press conference on Wednesday was to be addressed by him and Swelakhe Shelembe from the DA.

They wanted to address the media regarding the recent decision by the district municipality to strip all opposition councillors of their bodyguards. This is even though their lives are equally in danger as those of the IFP who still have them.

— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 5, 2023

“Something sad has just happened here (Ulundi), while we were holding a press conference with the SABC and 1KZNTV, armed bodyguards of Thulasizwe stormed it.

“It was me from the NFP, from the ANC, it was Mxoli, Khaya (Khumalo) and Shelembe.

“They walked in and said f**ck off, switch the cameras off, your sh***t and that is how the media briefing was ended,” Ntombela told IOL after the incident.

However, the municipality denied that it stopped a press conference of councillors of opposition parties and unleashed armed bodyguards to eject them from the premises.

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— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 5, 2023

The municipality anchored in Ulundi said the Councillors of the ANC, NFP, and DA had no permission to use the boardroom, which was booked for another meeting, hence, they were politely escorted out by the bodyguards, and no one swore at them.

“Zululand District Municipality has noted false media reports circulating on social media, about the banning of councillors from holding a media briefing at the municipality’s offices.

“The Municipality can confirm that the said councillors did not have permission to use the Municipal Boardroom for their press conference today.

“The municipal security personnel escorted them out since the boardroom had been booked for another meeting.

“At no point did the Mayor’s bodyguards enter the boardroom or swear at the councillors,” the municipality said in its rebuttal to Ntombela’s claims.

sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za

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