The eThekwini Municipality's council meeting ended in an argument between the DA and ANC after discussions around the appointment of non-executive directors to the Durban International Convention Centre and Durban Marine Theme Park.
Image: FILE
The ANC in eThekwini accused the DA of being a racist party after the appointment of non-executive directors drew sharp criticism and allegations of jobs for pals at a council meeting in Durban on Friday.
The meeting ended with a scuffle when a DA member approached the ANC benches. The heated argument between both parties had been boiling over after several remarks were made during the meeting, including a councillor calling another “stupid”.
The final argument broke out while councillors were approving the appointment of Thinta Cibane, Dr Pritish Dala, Lwazoluhle Kleinbooi, and Thulisa Ndlela to serve as non-executive directors of Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), trading as Durban International Convention Centre, for three years, from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2029.
Before this item was discussed, the DA questioned the appointment of Diane Hoorzuk, Nompumelelo Mabaso, Suren Maharaj, Dr William Mapena, Prince Mthembu, Mbali Myeni, Sihle Ndlovu, and Dr Brandon Pillay to serve as non-executive directors of the Durban Marine Theme Park (DMTP) for three years.
The eThekwini Municipality stated that all the board appointees bring a wealth of diverse skills, knowledge, and experience across various sectors, positioning them to provide effective strategic leadership and guidance in steering the entity toward achieving its objectives.
Responding to the DMTP appointments, Heinz de Boer, DA eThekwini Ward 36 councillor, said the list was strange because it included former ANC councillors who had previously served on several boards “where things did not work out so well”.
De Boer called on the municipality to re-examine how it appoints board members without involving politics.
“One thing that has sunk South Africa and sunk municipalities is the ongoing cronyism and the jobs-for-pals programme that the ANC continues to push. You keep putting the same people again and again in positions of authority. What is the reasoning behind this?” he asked.
“This is a blatant case of political appointments. We need to look at people who can do the job first. It is about appointing the right people to the right positions to drag failing entities like the Durban Marine Theme Park out of the trouble and deep waters that they are already in. This is political interference,” De Boer said.
In responding to De Boer, Nkosenhle Madlala, ANC whip of the Executive Committee (Exco) and chairperson of the Governance and Human Resources Committee, said: “The only motivating factor for Councillor De Boer to say all the things that he said is racism.
“De Boer said that calling somebody a racist within South Africa is a very derogatory and serious allegation.”
eThekwini Speaker, Councillor Thabani Nyawose, said Madlala did not refer to De Boer as a racist.
“He referred to the utterances or statements De Boer made as racism,” Nyawose clarified to councillors.
The DA called for the statement to be withdrawn and an apology to be tendered at the meeting, which Madlala adhered to.
Madlala explained: “I apologise holistically. The group of people noted here is qualified; they have the requisite experience. They have served on other boards and have a proven track record of service on other boards and in this municipality. The only thing that would make Councillor De Boer look at these people and think that there is something wrong…”
After Madlala was interrupted, he continued: “The only thing that would make DA able to field a populace of ministers to impute all the integrity of doctors like Dr Mapena, is racism. You are a racist party.”
The Minority Front, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, and the United Independent Movement also voted against the appointments.