Following his testimony at the South African Human Rights Commission on Monday, one could be forgiven for thinking that eThekwini’s mayor,, single-handedly brought about peace and stability in the metro in the aftermath of the July riots.
Kaunda claimed that the CEOs of top industries and businesses in the metro believed in his leadership – and his handling of the unrest – so much that they assured him they would not pull their investments after the mayhem because the mayor gave them “comfort”. But when asked why a deputy mayor did not step in to fill the void, Kaunda said the city of more than three million residents did not have one, despite the position being vacant since March 2021. He said it was decided not to fill the position because of the then upcoming elections.
The mayor openly admitted that the looters were predominantly from ANC wards, but then shifted the blame for the unrest to “truckers” and other “organised groupings”. “Some of those groups [were also active] when I was the MEC for transport and community liaison in KwaZulu-Natal, [they] were burning trucks because they were not satisfied with the manner in which the government is attending to their plight, especially on the employment of the foreign nationals.”
“The message from communities [about why the looting took place] was that you as government were failing us and people were living below poverty lines, which is increasing in this country. I said, ‘What you did in July was wrong.’ There are people who are unemployed today because their firms were burnt, and are no longer there,” said Kaunda.
He said that the indications of the looting and violence started to unfold as early as 6 July and “as the first citizen of the municipality” he embarked on a quest in “attempts to restore calm and order”– by posting on his personal Facebook page. Other posts said “We as leaders humbly request calm, lest we lose lives, damage infrastructure and lose jobs” and “racism must cease”.
The most notable was Kaunda’s most widely shared post which, on 10 July at the height of the unrest, said: “We are Msholozi, Msholozi is us #FreeZuma.” Kaunda did not include this post in his formal written submission to the commission.
It's only in his OWN eyes that MxolisiKaunda is an 'exemplary leader'! This loathsome ProZuma individual sees nothing wrong with ANC members, egged on by the RETFaction, taking to the streets & committing violence & destruction in support of Zuma, against the RuleOfLaw!!
An absent Mayor...no where to be seen.
Examplary according to the ANC handbook, most definitely.
🙄
Yes but say it loud that you have a problem if he supports Zuma
Does he realise sitting and doing fog all is not classed as exemplary behavior
One of his people allowed the Cornubia warehouse to stock illegal chemicals. No heads have rolled so it must have been Mr Exemplary Performance.
🤮🤮🤮🤮
What exactly did he do?
Uyanya lo 😴
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WATCH LIVE | SAHRC hearings on July 2021 unrest continueOn Monday the SA Human Rights Commission will continue to hear evidence from key witnesses about the July 2021 unrest and looting in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »
WATCH LIVE | SAHRC hearings on July 2021 unrest continueOn Monday the SA Human Rights Commission will continue to hear evidence from key witnesses about the July 2021 unrest and looting in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »