DURBAN - The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal has lashed out at Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu for snubbing it during the release of matric results.
The event which took place at the Anton Lembede Institute in La Mercy was without political parties.
IFP legislature member and spokesperson on education in the province, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said her party was disappointed by Mshengu’s decision to exclude it from the event as it has been the norm over the years.
Mthethwa called the exclusion “a blatant display of disrespect and egotism”, saying events of this magnitude pertaining to the future of the province require input and participation of all stakeholders.
“The IFP regrets that the Department of Education, led by Honourable Mshengu, who decided not to invite the official opposition party in the province, as is the norm for this annual event. We are appalled by this turn of events. Further, we did not receive any official correspondence or a communique regarding this matter,” said Mthethwa’s statement.
She told the Daily News on Sunday that at least Mshengu could have invited the IFP as the official opposition to represent other parties, adding that even a courtesy to inform them and give the reasons for excluding them would have shown respect.
She said it was surprising that members of the portfolio committee had been up and down with the MEC doing monitoring and evaluation but when the results were released he did not see the need to invite them.
“We await a full explanation from the department regarding their motivation for excluding the IFP from the event,” concluded her statement.
Mshengu dismissed IFP’s complaints saying the legislature was represented by the speaker and the chairperson of the portfolio committee. He said no other political parties were invited.
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