Times Of Swaziland: ANC's Thoko Didiza defends Ntuthuko

ANC's Thoko Didiza defends Ntuthuko
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 LUCKY TSABEDZE on 06/04/2011 00:00:00


MBABANE – Thoko Didiza, the National Committee member of the African National
Congress (ANC) has defended Minister Ntuthuko Dlamini against the accusations of
misuse of powers in the lease of government equipment.
According to information gathered, there has been correspondence between the
Minister of Public Works and Transport Ntuthuko Dlamini and the Ministry of
Agriculture’s Principal Secretary Dr Robert Tfwala.
She has told of how she hired the bulldozer and how it came to break down at her
farm.
Didiza said she came to understand that the minister of works found himself in a
media spat after being accused of using his office to ensure that a bulldozer
was taken to her farm
The allegations were made by erstwhile ex-Member of Parliament Maqhawe Mavuso on
national radio.
"It has come to my attention that an allegation has been made that I received
assistance for the use of the bulldozer from your department in a irregular
matter. In March 2010, I have been in contact with Swaziland Investment
Promotion Agency in order to get advice on what are possible investment
opportunities within the country," reads part of the correspondence leaked to
us.
She stated that she opted to invest in agriculture, thus she accessed a farm in
Mafutseni, where she decided to build infrastructure like roads. She said that
is when she decided to hire the bulldozer.
"Subsequent to getting access to a farm in Mafutseni, I needed to improve the
farm’s infrastructure such as roads, kraal, bore hole etc, it was clear that I
would need a bulldozer. I therefore approached your good office with the
request. In the meeting with yourself, the principal secretary and an engineer,
I was advised to approach the department of agriculture’s Land Development
Unit with offices in Matsapha. I approached the office and made my application.
On the 06/08/2010, I was given a letter signed by Mr S Mavuso which authorised
me to pay a deposit amount of E1710.00 at the Revenue Office. I took the letter
and duly paid at the Matsapha Revenue Office," she said. 　Didiza revealed
that she was given account number 201/2601/21002 to make payment into, with her
receipt number being 03342522.
"After the payment the bulldozer was then delivered at farm 668 Mafutseni to
commence with the opening of the road. Five days after commencing with the work,
the bulldozer experienced problems and could not operate," she explained in her
email.
Didiza also revealed that the bulldozer eventually left the farm after it was
fixed, regardless of the fact that the job had not been completed.
... says her mother is a Swazi
MBABANE – Thoko Didiza said her fondness of Swaziland develops from the fact
her mother is Swazi and she also spent her formative years in the country.
She said her parents also worked in Swaziland as civil servants, teaching in
various school in the country.
Didiza said she stayed in Swaziland with her parents until the whole family
relocated to the Republic of South Africa, where her father was born.
"My interest in Swaziland arises first and foremost from the fact that my own
mother is a Swazi national, from Mankayane.
"I too grew up in Swaziland and have spent my formative years in the country
until we relocated back to South Africa where my father was born. Both my
parents have worked as civil servants teaching in various schools within the
Kingdom," she explain-ed.
She said she chose to invest in Swaziland because she realised the economic
challenges faced by South African Development Community (SADC) and the
importance of attracting investors from within the region.