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An IFP councillor in KwaZulu-Natal has allegedly not resigned a week after the party’s national executive committee (NEC) announced he would leave after he was caught promising to extend a woman employee’s contract in exchange for sex.
Ward councillor in Alfred Duma Local Municipality in Ladysmith Abbas Warasally was recorded talking to a woman about her contract that was due to expire and then having sex with her.
In the four-minute audio recording, Warasally is heard saying that he did not like terminating contracts of employees as the woman asked him if he could promise not to terminate her contract.
Warasally said:
City Press has seen an SMS in which an IFP councillor informs his ANC colleague that Warasally has not resigned.
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“Morning Cde,” the message reads, “I received a phone call from an IFP member informing me that Mr Warasally is still our councillor, and he did not resign. [He] also informed me that I must be ready for a heart attack when Mr Warasally goes back to his war room.”
IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa did not respond to questions sent to him.
ANC Josiah Gumede regional ANC secretary Bonga Hlomuka said the IFP was brazenly showing all women in this municipality a “middle finger”.
“Contrary to the statement issued by the IFP NEC announcing the suspension of their sex predator Cllr Abbas Warasally, he is still attending council meetings convened by the IFP and DA coalition,” Hlomuka said.
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Hlomuka said that the IFP had no intention of holding their predators accountable for their sexual misconduct and the abuse of public office.
“The municipality was not only brought into disrepute by Warassally but the IFP has also contributed towards the projection of an image of a council that is tolerant of councillors who are demanding sex in return for employment,” he said.
About a week ago, the IFP NEC also fired AbaQulusi mayor in Vryheid Mncedisi Maphisa after he was recorded making remarks about women during a management meeting.
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Maphisa said:
Maphisa said that he was trying to explain that the executive authority in the municipality was the mayor and had no intention to interfere with the employment of staff and hiring of service providers.
