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The IFP, as the Official Opposition in the KZN Legislature, believes that the ANC-led KZN Provincial Government cannot be trusted when it comes to fulfilling promises made to the people.

In a video, which is circulating on social media, the KZN MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane, is heard during the KZN Premier's Imbizo in Umhlabuyalingana saying that they have reneged on their promise announced during the 2023/24 Budget Speech in the KZN Legislature, to build a hospital in Ward 4 Mtubatuba Municipality. She cited the IFP Mtubatuba Mayor as a hindrance.

This is cheap politics.

The MEC must tell Mtubatuba residents and the public at large how much of the budget was allocated to build this hospital, and what will happen to this budget allocation now, if the hospital is not built.

The IFP believes that the ANC-led government does not want to build a hospital in Mtubatuba because its former Mayor, Thobelani ‘Verus’ Ncamphalala was removed from power by the IFP and the ANC is now punishing the residents of Mtubatuba for voting for the IFP.

It appears that the building of a hospital was intended to give the ANC Mayor a tool to campaign with for the 2024 General Elections. Further, the fact that the hospital is no longer going to be built raises serious suspicions that possibly the tender to build the hospital was earmarked for certain politically connected contractors.

This turnaround shows that the ANC cannot be trusted. Whenever the MEC speaks in the KZN Legislature, she always gloats about how the ANC government is championing service delivery. We therefore call on the KZN MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane, to provide some clarity: were you lying when you said your party and your department prioritises service delivery, including healthcare?

Unkept promises like these have become the hallmark of the ANC’s tenure in government since ascending to power in KZN.

In its almost 30 years in government, the ANC has left a trail of broken promises. In 1994, the ANC offered false hope to people under its slogan “a better life for all”, which has now been shown to be “a better life for ANC cadres”. Similarly, in 2014, the ANC said, “Moving South Africa Forward”, which instead has been revealed as, “Moving public funds into our own pockets”, through corruption.

The ANC government makes promises they believe are most likely to satisfy voters during election campaigns. In so doing, ANC politicians raise the public’s expectations, creating false perceptions that, following the elections, communities will receive the services promised and their problems will be resolved.

The IFP believes that people have a right to accessible medical care even if they cannot afford private treatment. Therefore, we want the government to build more hospitals and clinics to cut the waiting time and to put an end to the problem of people travelling long distances. The IFP therefore urges Mtubatuba residents to punish the ANC in the upcoming 2024 General Elections, as it has reneged on its promise to build them a hospital. 

Issued by IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Health, Ncamisile Nkwanyana MPL