The IFP has joined the fray calling for the relocation of Kwazulu-Natal provincial legislature to its old home of Ulundi which was formed by the erstwhile KwaZulu government.
Currently Pietermaritzburg is the seat of both the provincial government and the legislature. When the new political dispensation under the ANC took the reins, it resolved to relocate both the two strategic arms of government to the midlands taking a chunk of the Zululand economy with it. For years, the previous legislature buildings have been lying idle only serving as a meeting place for traditional leaders and other functions of the AmaZulu royal house.
Now the IFP says the proposed facelift to the legislature precinct which is estimated at around R 7 billion will be nothing but a corruption frenzy for politically connected individuals.
“The IFP has, on numerous occasions, clearly stated its opposite to the R 6.8 development of the KwaZulu-Natal government precinct in Pietermaritburg. This would be a complete waste of taxpayers’ money, as a suitable facility already exists in Ulundi. This new precinct would amount to nothing more than wasteful expenditure. Further, we are concerned it will be used as an opportunity to enrich connected companies but awarding tenders under the guise of building a new legislature precinct,” explained IFP President and leader of the official opposition in KZN, Velenkosini Hlabisa.
ActionSA in KZN ignited the debate on Monday when the party said it was embarking on a public participation programme soliciting comments and views from the public on the proposed plan.
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