By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Dr Makhosi Khoza says Action SA’s national leadership told her she could not be trusted after she was elected to chair a powerful council committee with the help of ANC councillors in eThekwini.
In December, Khoza was elected by the eThekwini Metro council as the chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (Mpac), a position that has always been occupied by a councillor from the ruling party, the ANC.
Action SA’s leader Herman Mashaba during his interview with Newzroom Afrika maintains that Khoza resigned as the party’s KZN chairperson long before her new eThekwini council position.
With Action SA having just four seats in council, Khoza’s election victory was made possible through a strong support from ANC councillors.
Following Khoza’s victory, both Khoza and the Action SA denied that she had colluded with the ANC when other opposition parties started throwing accusations at her.
However, in a Radio 702 interview on the Clement Manyathela Show on Wednesday, Khoza said she was punished by the party for taking up the Mpac chair position.
“I was told that I was no longer trusted,”said Khoza.
Khoza said she was instructed by Micheal Beaumont, Action SA’s chairperson and Herman Mashaba, the party’s president, to step down as Action SA’s Kwazulu-Natal’s provincial chairperson and resign from the political organisation’s senate board.
“Frankly I was hurt and shocked because I did not see what was wrong with what I did. I am the most qualified person in that municipality – I’m the only one that holds a doctoral degree,” she said.
Mashaba released a statement in December saying that Khoza’s decision to step down as chairperson was a “mutual” agreement between them.
He suggested it was unrealistic that Khoza did not speak with ANC councillors ahead of the Mpac election.
Mashaba said it was also wrong for Khoza to accept the position without informing Action SA’s senate.
“No one can expect us to believe that this matter was not discussed before the voting.”
He said this was due to Khoza having financial difficulties as just an ordinary council member.
However, after augmenting her salary with the Mpac position, Mashaba said Khoza wanted to rescind her requests.
“I told her that knowing our position with the ANC for us as Action SA, we are happy to relieve you of your position as Action SA KZN chair and member of senate,” said Mashaba.