A war of words broke out between members of the MKP and the DA in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislative Assembly during the vote to approve the redistribution of money.
MKP and DA members exchanged words during the debate that preceded the budget vote.
The draft that was being voted on was officially presented by the Minister of Finance who is a member of the DA, Mr. Francois Rodgers.
Among the things contained in the framework is the allocation of R146 million to pay government employees who want to retire early and money to repair the damage caused by the floods.
The members of the MKP have scrutinized the list. He said the money allocated to encourage government employees to retire early will cause the number of unemployed people to increase in KwaZulu-Natal.
MKP member, Mr. Sithembiso Magubane, said that they will never support anything that comes from the coalition government in charge of KwaZulu-Natal.
“The people of KwaZulu-Natal voted for MKP. MKP is the one that should be in charge of KwaZulu-Natal. We will never support what is being done by a government run by people that should not be in charge.”
Magubane accused Rodgers of failing to take action on allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Education, Health and Transport.
“Rodgers failed to put these departments under the control of the administrator. This shows that this government is not willing to fight corruption.”
Rodgers accused MKP members of not understanding how the government works.
Rodgers said that MKP’s opposition to the passage of the redistribution of money means that MKP explains that the damage caused by the floods cannot be repaired.
“If MKP is against the allocation of money, does it mean that it is not compatible with the fact that the Ministry of Education was given R22 million to repair schools?”
Rodgers said that the retirement of employees in government departments will not increase the number of unemployed.
“The departments will also hire other people to fill the vacancies. The difference is that those who will be hired will be earning less because they will be at lower levels. That way the government will save money.”
When it was time to vote, the opposition parties cried again.
There were 40 members who voted to pass the redistribution of money, and 39 opposed.
37 members of the MKP and two of the EFF opposed.