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The IFP urges the KZN Provincial Government and municipalities not to allow themselves to be held to ransom by the Umkhonto WeSizwe Military Veteran’s Association which has demanded that its members be employed at various municipalities.

"We ask ourselves why the MKVA members want preferential treatment when it comes to the award of tenders and jobs?. We cannot allow the situation where certain people will use their status and contacts to get preferential treatment. People must be employed on merit according to their qualifications not just because they are MKVA members. Creating jobs only for MKVA will send a wrong message to other graduates who are trying very hard to find jobs," said IFP Leader in the KZN Legislature, Mr Blessed Gwala.

"If the MKVA want to get tenders they must follow due process. They must register their companies and apply for contract as everyone else does. They must not think that their status will guarantee them preferential treatment in the awarding of tenders. By awarding tenders to them without having registered companies will undermine the system that is placed to prevent tenderpreneurship and corruption. We cannot allow such a situation to take place in our municipalities," continued Mr Gwala.

"We further demand that municipalities in Greytown and Kokstad must tell us what agreements they have with members of the MKVA as they have claimed that these municipalities are co-operating with them in their grievances," concluded Mr Gwala.

Issued by IFP