“He must put his money where his mouth is. R5million in a lawyer’s trust account, and I will show him proof.”
Bradley Singh, a DA ward candidate, has challenged KZN ActionSA leader Zwakele Mncwango’s claim to possess property in Umhlanga, north of Durban.
The exchange of words comes ahead of a highly contested by-election in Umhlanga’s Ward 35 next month. The ward is an affluent suburb with businesses, hotels, and inhabitants, generating high rates for the eThekwini municipality.
Singh has been accused by various residents, including Mncwango, of contesting in an area where he does not reside.
“I live in Phoenix but I own two properties in Umhlanga. I don’t feel I need to show my title deeds to anyone,” Singh told IOL amid the furore.
Mncwango fired back, labeling him a liar and claiming he did not own any land in the region. Singh then challenged Mncwango, asking him to lay down R5 million before proving his ownership.
Singh will face ActionSA’s Saul Basckin, a well-known Umhlanga ward resident. On a more serious note, he criticized Singh’s candidacy.
“I’m not going to get to Bradley’s level of mudslinging and personal insults, people must do their own research on him,” Basckin told IOL. “I can only speak for myself. I only decided to stand in this area as a candidate after hearing Bradley was contesting and there was no way I was going to allow that. We are major rate payers to eThekwini Municipality, contributing more than any other ward so this is an important area. I want to fix things and I have business and community experience to do that.”
Singh is a previous Minority Front party member and boasts a history of service to the Phoenix community.
“In 2016 all the parties together couldn’t equate to even 50% of the support I received. Me, I’m a community person. Their candidate does not even have a Facebook page while I am active and responsive all the time,” Singh said.
Basckin describes himself as ‘Mr Fix It’ saying he understands business and community, having been involved at a senior level with more than 32 hotels nationally.
“I’m not a Mickey Mouse operator. I understand service delivery and what is needed. We need to bring back tourism and serve the community in this ward,” he said.
