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The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal calls on the Public Protector to investigate
alleged abuse of funds by the Ingwe Local Municipal Mayor, Nomagugu
Luzulane. The investigation must be extended to include the general
financial state of the municipality.

"It is alleged that the mayor used R50 000 as a donation for the funeral of
her boyfriend's brother under the guise of an Operation Mbo event which was
scheduled to take place in Ward 6 in Sandanezwe but the money ended up being
used to cover the funeral costs. This “donation” must be investigated and
should this turn out to be true the mayor must be arrested and prosecuted.
The municipal mayor cannot be allowed to utilise the public purse as her
personal piggy bank while the people of the area are in desperate need of
services such as water and proper sanitation. The mayor clearly needs to
adjust her priorities when it comes to spending tax payer’s money," said IFP
Leader in KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Mr Blessed Gwala, MPL.

"The mayor was not authorised to donate funds towards the funeral so this
must be viewed as fruitless and unauthorised expenditure. If it is found to
be unauthorised expenditure the mayor, the municipal manager and the Chief
Financial Officer must be held accountable and pay back the money,"
continued Mr Gwala.

"The ANC deployed mayor, Nomagugu Luzulane must take full responsibility for
her behavior. Nothing short of replacing the mayor would be sufficient. This
wasteful expenditure is inexcusable and all these matters point once again
to an ANC government that simply refuses to make expenditure on service
delivery a priority," concluded Mr Gwala.

The IFP further calls on the MEC of Cogta, Nomusa-Dube Ncube to investigate
this matter and make known the findings.

Issued by the IFP