The battle for the soul of KwaZulu-Natal province has intensified with the ANC and uMkhonto weSizwe Party at each other's throats over Moses Mabhida Stadium. The MK Party is accusing the ANC of using the eThekwini municipality to make sure they do not hold any rally at the 56 000 capacity Moses Mabhida Stadium ahead of the general elections next week.

DENIED VENUE

 According to insiders at MKP, the eThekwini municipality which is governed by the ANC refused to allow them to use the stadium claiming the ANC booked it before them last weekend for the newly formed party's manifesto. The ANC is also accused of blocking the MKP from using Princess Magogo Stadium earlier this year. "The ANC is using eThekwini municipality in fighting us over the use of the stadium. This is not the first time they have blocked us. We have been fighting the municipality since early this year as they kept blocking us when we wanted to host our gatherings at the city's facilities. They think they are smart and trust us, we are removing them from power come month end," the source said. Another source added: "They have blocked us four times from hosting events in Durban. They think they have everything covered; we will show them flames. We can't be treated like this, and we understand that the MKP leaders are approaching the IEC over this treatment," he said.

SABOTAGE

MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela confirmed that eThekwini municipality blocked their party from hosting their manifesto launch at Moses Mabhida and that they also blocked them from using the stadium's Outer Field for their Mayibuye rally on Saturday. "They are trying their very best to block us and this is not the first time. The nice thing about what they are doing is that this is the last time they are doing this and after the elections they will be out of the office. We are going to host our Mayibuye Rally in Durban on Saturday whether they like it or not," he said. ANC eThekwini Region spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize confirmed that they party in the province had booked Moses Mabhida Stadium Outer Field last weekend but denied that the municipality is blocking the MKP. "We had a variety of activities as the ANC in the province. As the region, we don't know all the activities that are happening in Durban. It may be an activity that is organised by the province or national," he said.

NOT TRUE 

eThekwini municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilane said MK Party's claims are untrue. "This is untrue, the municipality did not block any event or booking by Umkhonto Wesizwe Party. This weekend, there is a DSTV Premiership match between AmaZulu FC and Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium and there is no booking by the African National Congress in any of the city's stadiums as cited. The event at Princess Magogo Stadium was cancelled by Umkhonto weSizwe Party, not the municipality. Sisilane added that on two occasions, MKP booked the stadium, and they cancelled their booking. "They canceled their booking for the 19th of May opting for Orlando Stadium. The party made a booking for the 25th of May at Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammrsdale, which is approved" Sisilane said.