The African National Congress must hire private security to guard its headquarters instead of using police protection, the Economic Freedom Fighters told Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba at a council meeting on Tuesday.
“Why is there 24-hour protection by police at Luthuli House? The ANC must pay for private security to guard its house,” EFF councillor Silumko Mabaso said to Mashaba.
Mabaso told Mashaba to be alert to what went on in his city.
He said Luthuli House should be investigated on allegations that it owed the city thousands in water and electricity bills.
“We sit and wonder what is this thing called Luthuli House being named a national key point. There are allegations that it has not paid electricity and water. Make sure you quickly do an investigation and if that is true, turn off electricity in that place,” Mabaso said as Democratic Alliance and EFF councillors cheered.
The EFF earlier told the media it had learnt that Luthuli House has never paid rates and taxes since moving into the building.
It said the ANC had fallen behind by years on water and electricity bills and that some government departments had not paid their bills for more than five years.
“These defaults have been kept under cover all along under the leadership of former mayors Parks Tau and Kgosientso Ramokgopa,” it said.
Chaos erupted earlier when EFF supporters who claimed to have campaigned for the DA in Alexandra marched to the council gates demanding payment.
Police clashed with the protesters who were joined by EFF councillors.
Police sprayed pepper to disperse the crowds.
Source: News24
