By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) suspended the AbaQulusi Local Municipality mayor and an Alfred Duma Local Municipality councillor for making questionable statements and after accusations of sex for jobs.
Last week, in a recording, AbaQulusi mayor Mncedisi Maphisa is heard allegedly telling staff to fire an employee. He also makes sexual remarks about female workers in the municipality, reducing them to his sexual subjects.
In a separate incident, the IFP councillor in Alfred Duma municipality is heard negotiating a position at the municipality with a worker.
Shortly after the conversation, rummaging can be heard and, after a brief period, the councillor is heard saying he completed a sex act quickly.
“The mayor of Abaqulusi is suspended from the party with immediate effect and is directed to take leave from municipal duties with immediate effect,” said IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa.
He said the deputy mayor of Abaqulusi would act as mayor “with immediate effect”.
“The Alfred Duma municipality councillor implicated in the audio clip is suspended with immediate effect from the party and is directed to take leave as a councillor with immediate effect,” Hlengwa said.
He said the Speaker of the municipality was directed to ensure that “service delivery is not adversely impacted in the affected ward”.
“The affected councillors will appear before the NEC at a special meeting scheduled to sit no later than 5 March,” he said.
Hlengwa added that the IFP “reaffirmed the rights of women in the workplace to perform their jobs free from harassment and intimidation”.
“The IFP considers these matters to be of a very serious nature and, as such, it is receiving the priority attention of the party through investigation.”